The beginning of a new baseball season inspires a fresh start, passion and hope. For those of us involved with the ALS Association Greater San Diego Chapter and Lou Gehrig’s Disease, the start of the Padres baseball season inspires passion, hope, gratitude and good memories.
For a decade, the Chapter has had a positive relationship with the San Diego Padres. It began as an annual outing with several PALS (person with ALS) and family and friends tailgating at Qualcomm Stadium or picnicking atop the Western Metal Supply building at PETCO Park and then attending a game.
It evolved into ALS Night at PETCO Park in the summer of 2006 with the Padres recognizing our Chapter during the pre-game ceremony, and later as part of a larger effort begun in 2009 by Major League Baseball to heighten ALS awareness. What glorious moments those were for PALS standing along the first base line to hear the crowd cheer for them: courageous men and women battling the dreadful disease that claimed the life of baseball great Lou Gehrig.
Gratefully, because of my relationship with the team as a reporter at the former Padres’ TV partner, Channel 4 San Diego, for 15 years, the Padres Community Relations staff and several players took a special interest in our Chapter’s cause. Some players had a direct connection by knowing someone with ALS. Others just knew of Gehrig’s powerful story. Either way, the connection and compassion provided opportunities to go down on the field during batting practice so PALS and a caregiver could experience that ritual and routine. Former Padres on that list include Mark Loretta, Scott Linebrink, Randy Wolf, Scott Hairston, Nick Hundley and Chief Grounds-crewman Luke Yoder. To watch them genuinely interact with our PALS, and allow me to tell the ALS story for television through that newfound friendship, was heartwarming and encouraging.
My father, a 30-year Navy man and survivor of three wars, died of ALS in 1994. It is in his honor and for his legacy that I have been a volunteer board member of the Chapter from its inception in 2002. On behalf of our Chapter, I offer my thanks and gratitude to the game, the Padres organization and players who embraced our national mission to not only Strike Out ALS and increase awareness of the disease, but to also make a special memory for those PALS, their families and volunteers who, every day – even in their struggles – are inspired by hope and faith, and in turn, inspire and give us hope.
