Projo Running Blog

The East Greenwich Rotary Club continues to honor the memory of Scott Carlson - and support the search for a cure for ALS, the disease that took his life in 2003 - by hosting the ninth annual Scott Carlson Memorial 5K, set for April 25 at Goddard Park.

"We would like to emphasize that this is a run/walk," said Jerry Meyer, a EG Rotary Club member who is helping to organize the event. "The joggers and walkers are a huge part of our success and we want them to realize this is an event for them as well as the serious runners."

Race organizers provide more details:

New England takes another swing at Lou Gehrig's disease on Saturday April 25th, the date of the 9th Scott Carlson Memorial 5K run/walk at Goddard Memorial State Park.

Photo courtesy of Jerry Meyer
Start of 2008 Scott Carlson Memorial 5K

Runners and walkers can get more information and register now at www.teamals.org

On race day, registration for walk-ins begins at 8:30 am. There is a Kid's Fun Run on the Beach at 9:15 am, and the race begins at 10:00 am.

In addition to being a great Closed Loop, USATF Certified Course, there is a $1,000 purse, $500 course record challenge and individual and team prizes.

The first 500 entrants receive cotton, long sleeve t-shirts.

All proceeds benefit the ALS Association, Rhode Island Chapter. The East Greenwich Rotarians are working to match the $40,000 generated by the run/walk each of the last two years.

The East Greenwich Rotary Club got involved with helping raise money for ALS-Rhode Island after meeting Scott Carlson, for whom the race is named. Scott, the son-in-law of a Rotarian, had ALS and wanted to do something lasting to help other victims. He guided the race until he died at the age of 39 in 2003.

Inspired by the courage Scott displayed right up to his death, the Rotary Club members kept the race intact and continue to build it. They were further inspired when ALS also hit family members of several club members.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive, fatal neuromuscular disease that attacks the nerve cells and pathways in the brain and spinal cord. When the motor neurons die, as with ALS, the patient becomes completely paralyzed, unable to speak, eat or breathe on their own. Yet, throughout this complete degeneration of the body, the mind remains fully intact.

The ALS Association is the only National nonprofit voluntary health organization dedicated solely to the fight against ALS through research, patient support, education, public awareness and advocacy.

The Rhode Island Chapter helps ALS patients, their families and caregivers by providing local patient services. There is a monthly support group, equipment loan program, respite care, transportation and help line counseling to families coping with this devastating disease.

In 1999, the Chapter established the Louise Wilcox ALS Center, now in its third year of operation. This monthly clinic offers a specialized program of care, utilizing a multidisciplinary approach for the evaluation and management of ALS. The goal is to enable the patient to maintain a maximum level of neurological functioning in a supportive and understanding environment.

For more information about ALS and the Rhode Island Chapter call (401) 732-1609, or go to www.alsari.org. The e-mail address is alsriinfo@aol.com.

 Tags  ALS Scott Carlson Memorial 5K

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