 A
Letter from Phil Kirk
Help Us Hit a
Home Run Against ALS
What
is ALS — a term heard more and more these days?
ALS stands for Amryo-trophic Lateral Sclerosis, but is most often
called “Lou Gehrig’s Disease.” It is a fatal neuromuscular
disease that attacks the motor neurons and makes the simplest
movements of walking, speaking and gesturing nearly impossible.
Approximately 30,000 people in the United States have ALS, the disease
that forced early retirement of the famous New York Yankees first
baseman from his beloved sport.
ALS has no remission and its onset is rapid, with inevitable
deterioration and paralysis. The cause of the disease is still
unknown, and there is no known cure. The average length of time
between diagnosis and death is only three to five years. Patients are
paralyzed, but their minds are unaffected.
Every 90 minutes a person is told he or she has ALS, and every 90
minutes a person loses the battle for life with ALS.
What can be done to find a cure and/or treatment?
There is a national ALS Association with a Carolinas chapter at 6512
Six Forks Road, Suite 602-A, Raleigh, N.C. 27615. There’s a toll
free line – 1-877-LOU-GEHRIG (568-4347). Sharon Newman is the
enthusiastic president and CEO of the Carolinas chapter.
Objectives of the organization include:
 Providing support to
patients and family members;
Raising funds to support
patients and research;
Increasing public awareness
and understanding;
Working to find a treatment
and eventual cure.
I became interested in this deadly disease for many reasons. The first
was the onset of ALS with one of finest people I have ever known, Joe
Martin, a retired Bank of America executive and the brother of my
former boss, Gov. Jim Martin.
Joe served as chairman for his brother’s transition from Congress to
the Governor’s Mansion in 1984, and I was the executive director.
Organized, focused, compassionate, caring, intelligent are all
adjectives I would use to describe the man I grew to respect and
admire.
He was diagnosed with ALS perhaps seven years ago, so he has beaten
the odds, partially through a positive attitude, faith and excellent
care by family and friends.
When I became chairman of the State Board of Education, I received a
letter from Joe. It was written by eye contact with a computer because
that was the only way he could communicate. Surely Joe is a key reason
why we should support finding a cure for ALS.
Another is the legendary “Catfish” Hunter, a North Carolinian who
brought honor to the sport of baseball and to his native state. His
death from ALS has resulted in more people learning about the disease
and getting involved in ALS.
His wife, Helen, and Kevin Costner are serving as the honorary
co-chairs of the first annual “Field of Dreams” Black Tie Gala set
for Saturday, Feb 2, at the Civic Center at the Durham Marriott
Carolinas Theatre in Durham. Jim Goodmon and Bob Ingram are co-chairs
of the dinner benefit committee.
Reggie Jackson will handle the live auction. Among the celebrities who
have committed to attend are baseball greats Cal Ripken Jr. and Curt
Schilling, Senators Jesse Helms and John Edwards, and Congressman Bob
Etheridge. Others are expected but had not confirmed at press time.
Armen Keteyian will be master of ceremonies. He is a three-time Emmy
Award winner with CBS Sports and HBO Sports. Also present will be
Charlie Wedemeyer, who has lived with ALS for 25 years — a
remarkable feat made even more so by the fact that he still coaches in
California. A movie has been made of his life. Mark Reiman, an ALS
patient for 12 years, also will attend. He sang the national anthem at
all the major league ballparks in one season!
Businesses and individuals may purchase entire tables at prices
ranging from $5,000 to $25,000. Individual tickets are $500. For
information on availability, please call 919-844-4257 or
1-877-LOU-GEHRIG.
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