Local Teams To Participate In Walk To Raise ALS Funds, Awareness
Local Teams To Participate In Walk To Raise ALS Funds, Awareness
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
Local Teams To Participate In Walk To Raise ALS Funds, AwarenessEvery 90 minutes a person is diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, often known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.
Another person will lose their battle against the disease every 90 minutes.
ALS is a progressive and fatal neuromuscular disease that slowly robs the body of its ability to walk, speak, swallow, and breathe.
The life expectancy of an ALS patient is 2 to 5 years from the time of diagnosis, and there isn't currently a cure for the disease.A group of Warsaw residents who have family members that have Lou Gehrig's Disease have formed two teams that will participate in an ALS walk.
The two-mile Walk To Defeat ALS is on the IPFW campus, Fort Wayne, Sunday.
Local team members are encouraging other people to form teams to bring awareness and raise funds for Lou Gehrig's Disease research.
Teams use a letter writing campaign to raise funds that go toward patient services and research. The funds are donated to the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association.
The association is the only national not-for-profit voluntary health organization dedicated solely to the fight against ALS.
Ernie Kolesiak, Warsaw, is the team captain of "Shirley's Steppers."
The team is walking in honor of Kolekiak's wife Shirley, 67, who was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's Disease in April 2007.
This will be the third year that Kolesiak has organized a team, and the team currently has 30 friends and family members walking.
Shirley also will participate on the team with her daughters, Karen Kratzsch and Cindy Romine, both of Warsaw.
Shirley was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's Disease at the age of 65.
It was a shock to her family when they found out she had the disease.
"Her voice was getting shaky and it was hard for her to talk. She was crying and laughing uncontrollably at things that were not funny or sad which we learned later were side effects of Lou Gehrig's Disease," Romine said.
Romine and Ernie care for Shirley in Kolekiak's home. Shirley is unable to speak and her motor neurons have failed due to Lou Gehrig's Disease.
Ernie and Romine take Shirley once every three months to Wishard Hospital, Indianapolis, for check-ups.
She is on a breathing ventilator, and needs help using a suction machine to suction her lungs.
Kratzsch is serving as a volunteer coordinator for the walk.
"I have four children so I am not a primary caregiver to my mother, but I try to take a pro-active approach in encouraging others to raise funds and get my children, family, and friends involved in the walk," Karen said.
Sara Clemens-Landis, Warsaw, also is organizing "Team Warsaw" that will walk in honor of Jane Clemens, wife of Don Clemens.
Jane is Clemens-Landis' sister-in-law and was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's Disease in 2006. Jane currently doesn't have use of her hands or feet and will not be able to participate in the walk.
This year will be the second year "Team Warsaw" has walked in honor of Jane and expects to have a large team.
To register a team for the walk visit www.alsaindiana.org
