PUTTING THE BOOTS TO ALS 5K RUN/WALK FUNDING A CURE FOR ALS

Project 5 for ALS is a grassroots organization, which started from the vision of Robert C. Willson (Big Bob) two years before he died of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Rob urged all of his friends and family to support his goal of starting a foundation to fund ALS research. He especially wanted to encourage translational research. He was adamant about ensuring that all money raised would go directly to researchers, and none to administrative or other costs. He named the foundation Project 5 for ALS (his KC Blues rugby jersey was number 5), and he coined the phrase “Putting the Boots to ALS” to serve as the organization’s motto.

Project 5 for ALS has provided funding to research for a cure for ALS. The idea of doing this kind of funding is unique. Our focus is to raise money and give it directly to research projects. It’s that simple. We have no employees, and little overhead, which enables the donations that you give to support this foundation to go directly to finding a cure for ALS.

What is ALS?
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), sometimes called Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a rapidly progressive, invariably fatal, neurological disease that attacks the nerve cells (neurons) responsible for controlling voluntary muscles. As many as 20,000-30,000 people in the United States have ALS, and an estimated 5,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with the disease each year. In 90 to 95 percent of all ALS cases, the disease occurs apparently at random with no clearly associated risk factors. Patients do not have a family history of the disease, and their family members are not considered to be at increased risk for developing ALS. About 5 to 10 percent of all ALS cases are inherited. The familial form of ALS usually results from a pattern of inheritance that requires only one parent to carry the gene responsible for the disease.

What are the Symptoms?
The onset of ALS may be so subtle that the symptoms are frequently overlooked. The earliest symptoms may include twitching, cramping, or stiffness of muscles; muscle weakness affecting an arm or a leg; slurred and nasal speech; or difficulty chewing or swallowing. These general complaints then develop into more obvious weakness or atrophy that may cause a physician to suspect ALS.

The parts of the body affected by early symptoms of ALS depend on which muscles in the body are damaged first. In some cases, symptoms initially affect one of the legs, and patients experience awkwardness when walking or running or they notice that they are tripping or stumbling more often. Some patients first see the effects of the disease on a hand or arm as they experience difficulty with simple tasks requiring manual dexterity such as buttoning a shirt, writing, or turning a key in a lock. Other patients notice speech problems.

Support the “Putting the Boots to ALS” Run/Walk!
Be part of this upcoming race, Saturday, July 7, 2012, Putting the Boots to ALS 5k Run/Walk. The Run/Walk will start at 8:00 a.m.

The run starts and finishes at Rockhurst High School. The runners/walkers will enjoy a great course along beautiful Ward Parkway in Kansas City. All 5K participants will receive moisture wicking technical shirts. Registration cost is $25 thru 4/29…. $30 thru 7/5….and $35 on Race Day at Packet Pickup.

Kids Fun Run
Bring your kids out for a great cause. The Fun Run will feature two heats around Rockhurst track: Age groups 5 & Under and 6-10. Fun Run kids receive t-shirts and a ribbon. Price: $10 thru 7/5 and $12 at Packet Pickup. To sign up online for the race go to www.puttingthebootstoals.com or for more information contact the race director, John Lillis, at 816-560-0779.

Big Bob – A Big Man
Big Bob Willson, a man 6 foot 5 with a heart even bigger, graduated from the University of Missouri, Rockhurst High School, and was a long time Kansas City Blues Rugby player. Bob left three children and a wife, Linda, way too early in life. He always hoped that a cure would be found so no one else’s family would endure ALS. He constantly looked for the opportunity to help people. He was truly “a man for others.” With a kind word of encouragement, he brought out the best in everyone he met. When he lost his battle with ALS, the people he touched picked up the sword to carry on his fight.

The Project 5 Foundation recently presented a total of $50,000 to the University of Kansas School of Medicine and the Washington University School of Medicine to continue research for a cure. Come and be part of this important fight to find a cure.