STEFANIE KNOWLTON
Statesman Journal, Portland, Oregon
September 8, 2003

Pink is for breast cancer and purple for Alzheimer?s. Sunday, locals added a new color in disease awareness: red for ALS.

More than 250 people gathered at Riverfront Park in Salem for the first time to walk in memory or in honor of someone with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig?s disease. It is one of dozens of walks held nationwide, including one Sunday in Portland.

Armed with signs, red T-shirts and a sense of purpose, participants looped around the downtown park to raise money and to bring attention to a disease they say too few understand.

Denise Deal and her mother, grandparents and siblings displayed matching T-shirts that identified them as Don?s Determinators. Don Deal is Denise?s father. He has had ALS for about three years.

?If you say ALS, people say, ?what?s that??? she said.

?Then you say, ?Lou Gehrig?s disease? and then they say, ?Oh.??

Few know more than that.

ALS is a rare neuromuscular disease that affects 30,000 people nationwide. A loss of voluntary muscle control forces patients to rely on friends and family to do simple tasks such as dressing, showering and getting to the bathroom.

Part of the money raised at Sunday?s event will go to help families and patients with counseling and the medical cost of 24-hour care. A portion also will go to research. There is no cure.

Silverton resident Loris Buccola watched the walk from his wheelchair. Aside from his face, which bore a wide grin, there was no other movement in his body. Dozens of his friends and family came to walk in his honor.

?It?s an extreme morale boost and a boost for both fund raising and ALS awareness.?

Walkers said they were inspired by Buccola?s attitude in the face of the disease. The Silverton resident not only continues to teach at Mount Angel Abbey, but he is a deacon at the local Catholic church and works from home for a employee-assistance program.

Without the help of about 50 volunteers who share care duties, he couldn?t do it.

?I?m one of the lucky ones,? he said.

So far, Salem does not have an ALS support group, although Buccola talked to the handful of ALS patients who attended Sunday?s walk about starting one.

Kerry Johansen was among them. The 51-year-old was diagnosed with ALS a month ago. He was one of the few patients who were able to do the walk.

The event was encouraging, he said. It helps to talk to people who have been dealing with the disease.

?Don said keep a good attitude. Everyone says that, but it means more coming from someone living it,? he said.

About 30 family members, friends and co-workers rallied together to create a walking team in the short time since Johansen was diagnosed. Other friends have installed flooring and kidnapped his vintage car to fix it up.

?It?s amazing the capacity for people to give. It?s overwhelming us,? he said.

At the end of the walk, the money was tallied.

Salem walkers raised about $12,000 for ALS, which turned out to be almost $50 per person.