Calling all Silicon Valley-based IRO members and friends. You are invited to Sean’s kickoff on March 22, 10am-12pm in front of the Palo Alto City Hall Plaza. It’s going to be a community health + wellness event, including Sean’s kickoff, that we want to make sure families around the area attend. There is also a short ride opportunity (3 miles) for everybody to join. More details can be found here.
Why is Sean Maloney bicycling 5,000 miles across America?
In a little more than a week Sean Maloney embarks on “the second hardest thing he has ever done” in his life. He will begin a 5,000 mile trek – his Heart Across America bike ride — to get people talking about health, heart disease and stroke. Along the way he plans to encourage everyone to lead a healthy, active lifestyle, know how to spot a stroke F.A.S.T., and for adults over 50 to get essential blood pressure and carotid artery screenings regularly.
F.A.S.T. is an easy to remember acronym – (F)acedrooping, (A)rm weakness, (S)peech difficulty, means it’s (T)ime to call 9-1-1 – that reminds people that the sooner care is given, the better the chances for recovery. Time lost is brain lost. Sean is working with the American Heart Association (AHA) and American Stroke Association on his ride. The AHA is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization devoted to fighting cardiovascular diseases and stroke.
“My life can be characterized now as 2 phases: pre-stroke and post-stroke. On February 22, 2010, I had a massive stroke that altered my life. I woke up in the hospital to find my left brain had vanished and I couldn’t speak,” recalled Sean. Now, a few years later, Sean is almost fully recovered, and has rededicated his life to stroke prevention and being with his family. He shared that the hardest thing he has ever had to do was teach himself to speak again (I bet you thought it was winning a constructive confrontation with Andy Grove). Sean notes that strokes and heart attacks kill more people in the world than anything else, including wars and natural disasters, and 80% of these deaths are preventable.
Sean retired from Intel in 2013, after almost 30 years of service. He is one of our Intel Retiree Organization (IRO) members. Like most Intel retirees and long-term alumni, he is determined to use his Intel developed skills to contribute to the world and his community. Sean hopes he can help prevent others from experiencing the disruption, pain, struggle and work that he has gone through in recovering from his stroke.
To support Sean’s Heart Across America ride he has created a website that provides details about Sean and his mission. The website highlights some of the important discoveries and lessons Sean uncovered as he battled through his recovery process. If interested, you can donate and help Sean raise money and awareness for arterial ultrasound exams an incredibly effective tool in the early detection and prevention of strokes.
Also, many Intel employees, alumni, and retirees are planning to join Sean on parts of his ride . IRO members let us know if you plan on joining Sean by sending us an email at intelretiree@gmail.com with the subject of Sean Maloney Ride and we will document your participation for IRO.
About Sean
Sean Maloney has a long storied career at Intel, working in various leadership roles from 1982 until his retirement in 2013. His roles included Chairman of Intel China, Executive Vice President, General Manager of the Sales and Marketing Group, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer and Andy Grove’s Chief of Staff. He was credited with numerous achievements, most noticeably leading the successful growth of Intel into Chinese and Asian markets.
Sean was extremely fit and always followed doctors’ orders, yet in 2010 he suffered a debilitating stroke that wiped out his ability to write, to speak (aphasia), and to move his right side. He was determined to make a full recovery and refused to let the stroke permanently sideline his career or family. As a dedicated husband and father of six, he worked diligently to fully recover and regain his speech.
After his recovery, Sean went from leading Intel to leading the fight against stroke. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Silicon Valley American Heart Association Board of Directors. As the board chair, he has worked tirelessly to raise much needed funding and awareness for life-saving stroke and heart disease research. He is also on the board ofSemiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation, Compal