A little over two years ago, Van Ballew climbed Mount Whitney to celebrate his 50th birthday. Today, the Del Mar resident is confined to a wheelchair and cannot talk without the help of a machine.
With each passing day, the muscles in Ballew's body shut down a little more. He has a neuromuscular disease called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
His life slowly is slipping away.
But don't tell him that.
Ballew, a father of three, says he still has a lot to do. Through a device that voices Ballew's words, his determination to help others cope with the disease shines through along with his light-hearted, easy-going demeanor.
He talks about following the Grateful Dead on tour with his wife in his younger days. He jokes about his trademark hat that he said he started wearing because he was going bald.
Does he ever ask "Why me?"
Without hesitation, Ballew types away on his keyboard. Moments later, a computer voice spits out his answer.
"That's not a useful question during these times," Ballew says. "I need to be thinking about what I should do next."
For Ballew, it's the San Diego Marathon. The Del Mar resident, who earned a second-degree black belt in aikido before his illness, will be pushed in his wheelchair through Sunday's race by 26 teams of friends over the 26.2-mile course.
A former accounting professor at San Diego State and UCSD, Ballew was diagnosed with ALS about six months after climbing Mount Whitney. There is no known cause, cure or treatment for the disease, which slowly paralyzes muscles in the body while leaving the mind unaffected.
Ballew's brother, who lives in Texas, also has ALS. An uncle died from the disease more than 30 years ago.
Ballew, friends say, refuses to waste his time wallowing in self-pity.
"He truly is an inspiration," said Cheryl Rattner-Price, who will take a turn pushing Ballew in the race. "He's always been one of those people who when you're with him, he's truly interested in what you're saying."
Lori Butler, the ALSA San Diego Chapter president, says she has relished the chance to spend time with Ballew within the last year.
"I'm amazed by what this man does," Butler said. "Even before I met him he had raised thousands of dollars for ALS research. He is an inspiration to many people with ALS."
Ballew, 53, met many of the people who will be pushing him in the marathon at the ALS Association of Greater San Diego. Each team plans on pushing Ballew for a mile to help raise funds for ALS.
"It's a wonderful opportunity for Van to show that just because a diagnosis of ALS means you are dying, it doesn't mean you still can't live," Butler said.
"Awareness of this plague is critical," Ballew added.
Ballew will be pushed the last mile by his wife, Lynne, his youngest daughter, Hannah, 5, and other family members. When he gets to the finish line he hopes to stand and walk the last few steps with the help of his family.
"He's an amazing guy," said Lynne Ballew. "A lot of people with this disease will just lie down and die. He's such a fighter.
"He has the attitude of, 'Well, I have this terrible thing, but how can I make people understand what life's priorities should be?' "
Ballew will be presented with the Spirit of Joshua Award, named after Joshua Birnbaum, who died in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, four months before he was scheduled to run in the San Diego Marathon. The award is given to a marathon participant who has overcome great obstacles.
Ballew says he takes things one day at a time.
"Each day I focus on the present," Ballew said. "I try and avoid looking at the future. "If someone had told me how much joy I would find from (getting involved with the ALS cause), I wouldn't have believed it."