In baseball, striking out is bad.

In life, striking out can be good - especially when you're trying to strike out ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, named for the famous Yankees player who contracted ALS when he was 36 years old.

ALS is a fatal neuromuscular disease characterized by degeneration of nerve cells and pathways in the brain and spinal cord, which leads to progressive paralysis of the muscles. Almost 30,000 people in the United States suffer from ALS and about 5,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. While there is no known cause, cure or control for ALS, recent advancements in research and medical care help patients live longer, more productive lives.

The catch is that care for a patient in the advanced stages of ALS can cost up to $200,000 a year.

The Rocky Mountain Chapter of the ALS Association is working to strike out the debilitating disease by raising funds for its patient service programs and ALS research at Denver's Eleanor Roosevelt Institute.

ALS supporters, baseball enthusiasts and sunset lovers showed up in force for the association's recent annual benefit, "Sunset in the Park," hosted by Kautia and Mike Hampton at City Park Pavilion.

The Hamptons will contribute $1 million annually to Hampton's Pitching-In Foundation, which supports many charities around the country, including the ALS Association.

"Kautia and I have been blessed in so many ways," said Rockies pitcher Hampton. "We have experienced success on and off the baseball field, but nothing compares to the joy of helping others."

The Hamptons became involved with the ALS Association last year and have lent their time and talent to many chapter activities. That includes contacting their friends - sometimes Mike's foes - in the sports world, who contributed more than 100 autographed items of sports-related memorabilia to the event's auction, a highlight of the affair.

Folks spotted at the fund-raising fete included Sunset in the Park founder Sue Christiansen and her granddaughter, Ali; Rocky Mountain ALS President Mark Williams; Vice President Cathy Bodine; Executive Director Martha Simmons; Mike Hampton Pitching-In Foundation Director Toby Holt and his wife, Karen; and Mike Hampton Sr. and his wife, Joan, who served on the event's planning committee.
Fellow committee members who planned the party included Nancy Arneson; Caroline and Bob Barnett; Nancy Brittain; Betty and Bob Buckland; Jodi and Bill Burtness; Kim Chaldekas; Dr. Robert Deloian; Kay and Bruce Dickson; Deb Dowling; Charlotte Grahame; Marie and Larry Graves; Elaine and Bob Holmes; Pat and John Kemman; Dick Klingenstein; Ginny and David Kofoed; Carol and John Koslosky; Dr. Catherine Kunst; Cheryl McEachran; Dr. Leo J. Nieland; Jan Pettigrew; Shirley and Bob Pierce; Bob Pinkerton; Dave Rhyne; Lidanne and Bill Sandberg; Steve Saunders; Karen and Al Schmidt; Nancy and Pete Spence; and Matt Yeingst.

The next step the association will take in its fight against ALS is its "Colorado Walk to D'Feet ALS."

The kickoff party for the walks, 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday at the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame at Invesco Field at Mile High, will feature individual and team registration for the October walks.

The walks are: Pueblo, Oct. 5; Colorado Springs, Oct. 6; Denver (Invesco Field at Mile High), Oct. 12; Boulder (Boulder High School), Oct. 20; and Fort Collins (Colorado State University's Oval Drive), Oct. 27.

For registration information, call the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the ALS Association, (303) 549-1601.

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