Ride For Life: Animal activist fights different battle these days

FRANKLIN - Many in the area know Marcy Payne for her work as an animal activist. In 1996, she was instrumental in starting Happy Tales Humane and was the Franklin area pet association's first president. A runner who typically won or placed in every 5K she entered, Payne noticed a twitch in her right leg in spring 2000. That summer, she learned she had ALS, a fatal neuromuscular disease. The typical survival rate is three to five years after diagnosis.

Now, two years after first receiving the news, Payne, at 39, uses a wheelchair to get around. She is unable to walk, move her arms more than a few inches or feed herself. She tires easily and speaks just above a whisper.

Optimism and family

But still she says there are many blessings in her life.

"I was always a Type A personality, very goal-oriented. But I've had to learn patience, to take things one at a time. It was hard for me to take that leap initially. I was always going a million miles a minute. There was no time to stop and be still," she said.

After her diagnosis, Payne and her husband, Rob, decided that time should be spent as a family with their children, Darcy, 8, and Matthew, 13, while Marcy was still able. They've been to more Brownie services, school open houses and field trips and gone in-line skating as a family.

As Payne's mobility becomes more limited, the family togetherness continues. Her mother and father have moved to Franklin to help her and the children during the day.

And they've found strength in each other.

"Before all this happened, we had never prayed as a couple together. We'd prayed with others in church, but not with just each other, one-on-one. We were too busy with our lives to even think about it," Rob said.

Marcy said simply, "Rob is the rock I lean on every day."

But they also have found plenty of rocks in their friends, neighbors, even people they don't recognize. Fieldstone Farms neighbors have taken it upon themselves to make sure the family gets a hot meal daily and regular housecleaning work.

Church members have spread their story far and wide. And Rob's co-workers pitch in when he must take time off work to care for Marcy or take her to treatments sometimes across the country, even the world.

"And there have been great blessings of generosity. So many people have been willing to do whatever they can to help us out," Rob said.

The Paynes continue to have a strong faith that somehow they'll find a way to beat the disease. Their focus has been in religion and holistic treatments with everything from the MacroBiotic diet to a wet cell device and neurosequencing - all with varying results.

"It's been a spiritual journey for me. I know that the healing is right around the corner. I keep my faith in that," Marcy said.

"There's beauty and God has a hand in everyday things. That's something I didn't see before. Every day is precious that's the one thing I would like to get across," Marcy said.

Those who wish to follow Marcy's journey can visit:

www.EveryDayIsPrecious.com.

The site includes an e-mail journal, Bible verses, a list of blessings, a photo album, "shared stories" and links to books about ALS and treatments she has undergone.

Tourney time

That faith is buoyed by those willing to get involved in Mulligans for Marcy, organized by the couple's church, ClearView Baptist.

Mulligans for Marcy, a scramble tournament planned for Oct. 12, will raise money for Franklin resident Marcy Payne, who is battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Registration is due Saturday.

Novices who love to golf but don't want to play the tournament can get some practice at 4 p.m. that day at the Nike Learning Center in Forest Crossing.

Even those who aren't golfers have plenty of opportunities to help the Payne family on Oct. 12. A buffet dinner including barbecue pork sandwiches, baked beans, cole slaw, cookies and tea or lemonade or just hot dogs for the kids begins at 5:30 that night, whether you sign up for the tournament or not.

Requested donations for the golf event are $90 per player or $340 for a foursome, which includes golf and meals. Dinner and the Nike Learning Center is $40, while dinner only is $15. Donations are tax deductible and 100% of the proceeds from the event go to Payne's medical treatments.

Sponsorship opportunities are also available.

Mulligans for Marcy begins at noon Oct. 12 with a shotgun start at Forest Crossing Golf Course. Prizes will be awarded to first-, second- and third-place foursomes in each flight as well as other contests. A buffet dinner caps off the day at 5:30 p.m. Cost: $90 per player or $340 for foursome.

Registration at www.EveryDayIsPrecious.com should be made by Saturday.