Mission: Cure A.L.S.

Letter from Mike Armstrong

Executive Director, The ALS Association

Northeast Ohio Chapter

Two seniors on a risky journey to fight ALS

On August 17, 2003, Theodore P. Dowdell of Elyria, Ohio and Greg Emmons of Santa Fe, New Mexico will launch a 16-foot catamaran raft into the Monongahela River, beginning a three-month river journey down the United States. These courageous men will attempt to sail and manually paddlewheel their self built craft over 2000 miles, living with little shelter and a minimum of supplies in order to raise money to find a cure for ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, is a degenerative neuromuscular disease with no known cause, treatment or cure. ALS occurs when motor nerve cells in the nervous system cease functioning and die. Although the mind remains unaffected, muscle control becomes completely lost and paralysis sets in. The life expectancy of an ALS patient averages two to five years. Over 5,000 people are newly diagnosed with this fatal disease every year.

Although Greg, age 56 and Ted, age 80, both have experience in navigating rivers and canals, this adventure will be the first time they have attempted such a trip in a non-powered craft. Though they will make scheduled stops in various ports to re-supply and attend local press conferences, Ted and Greg intend to live on their craft for the duration of the trip.

When asked why he would be willing to suffer extreme exposure for three months living on an open raft with no shelter or convenience, Ted simply replied, “Because I can’t forget my wife’s last moments.” Though he promised his wife he would not openly discuss her losing battle with ALS, Ted shared this very personal moment. “I was whispering my love into her ear. She tried in vain to open her eyes one last time and managed a very faint smile. A beautiful smile.”

Upon launching into the Monongahela River at Fairmont, WV, the “Mission Cure ALS” crew of Ted and Greg will sail and manually paddlewheel their boat 128 miles to the headwaters of the Ohio River at Pittsburgh, PA. From there they will challenge the Ohio River’s 20 locks and dams, navigating through huge waves from powerful tug-boats and barges up and down-stream for 981 miles to the Mississippi River at Cairo, IL. The crew will follow the “Mighty Mississippi” to New Orleans and ultimately Lake Pontechartrain, LA. Progress reports and possibly live webcasts will be broadcast on the “Mission: Cure ALS” website.

The intent of the “Mission: Cure ALS” crew, according to Ted is simple, “To raise national awareness of ALS and to raise donations of a penny a mile from every person who takes an interest in our quest to help defeat this terrible disease.” Clearly, Ted’s mission is a very personal one. Why else would he be willing to risk everything?

Though his family worries about Ted’s safety during this journey, his son Jim says he is not the type of man who sits back and waits for someone to do what needs to be done. “Dad has an insatiable drive to, in some way, fight back against the disease that took my mother from him. We are all proud of the determination and resolve he is demonstrating in honoring her memory.”

Donations for the ALS Association’s Research Program may be sent to The ALS Association, 2500 E 22nd St. Suite 101, Cleveland, Ohio 44115.

Please enter - Mission: Cure ALS on the memo line of your check.

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