Posted 06/29/2009

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85 Miles as a Veteran for Veterans

By Pamela Rivers - ALS Association DoubleDay Bike Ride Committee

When Mike Sexton of Arlington, Wash., was told that his neighbor had been diagnosed with ALS, he went home to do his research on this fatal disease. “The more I read about ALS, the more I want to help out,” Sexton says.

“This is the reaction a lot of our volunteers have when someone they know is diagnosed with ALS,” says Robin Hartman, development director at the Evergreen Chapter of the ALS Association in Kent, Wash. Although, what Sexton learned about this rare disease has made it even more personal than he had expected.

Amyothrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord resulting in muscle weakness and atrophy. The average life expectancy is 2 to 5 years from diagnosis. Every 90 minutes someone is diagnosed with ALS and every 90 minutes someone lose their life as a result of ALS. Sexton was surprised to learn that veterans are twice as likely to develop ALS as those who have not served in the military.

The cause of ALS is unknown amongst the general population as well as amongst veterans. The ALS Association has advocated for more research and progress is being made. In 2008 alone, $5 million was secured to continue the ALS Research Program at the Department of Defense, ALS was designated as a service connected disease at the Veterans Administration and more than $500 million in health and disability benefits will be provided to veterans and their survivors. Also, the ALS Registry Act was enacted, which may become the single largest ALS research program ever created.

Sexton is a war veteran and served two tours in Desert Storm. He turned to Robin Hartman to find out how he can get involved locally to help fight ALS. The ALS Association is the only national not-for-profit health association dedicated solely to the fight against ALS. The Evergreen Chapter serves as a resource for people with ALS and their families locally.

“We provide support groups, home visits, medical equipment loans, communication devices and educational programs locally and engage in advocacy and support world-wide research on a national level,” says Hartman.

Sexton decided the best way he could help his neighbor and veterans was to raise awareness and funds for the local ALS Association. He told Robin that “seeing my neighbor deteriorate each day really hits me and drives me to want to help in any way I can”.

Sexton has signed-up to ride in the Association’s 9th Annual DoubleDay Bike Ride in Skagit Valley taking place July 25 and 26. He handed out information at his VFW and American Legion, “I’ll be riding as a Veteran for Veterans”.

Sexton, along with the other 190 riders signed up so far, will traverse 85 miles over two days beginning and ending each day at Mount Vernon High School. The ride attracts over 200 riders, volunteers and supporters each year and has raised over $700,000 since 2000.

“Years ago we began referring to ALS as Lou Gehrig’s disease, after the baseball hero. Today with Mike Sexton’s support, we are honoring our veterans, America’s heroes,” says Hartman.

To learn more about the ALS Association and the Double Day Bike Ride, visit www.alsa-ec.org/DoubleDayRide.