Fire Fighters Organize Cycling Event to Fight Lou Gehrig’s Disease

November 10, 2009 – After two people close to Pinellas Park, FL Local 2193 fire fighters were diagnosed with Amyothrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, Local 2193 members organized a Tour de Vie, a bicycling event to benefit the ALS Association.

“It was a great success,” says Local 2193 President Bert Williams. “We had about 200 participating cyclists and raised more than $50,000.”

The idea for the event first came a year ago when Local 2193 member Nick Reale’s mother-in-law was diagnosed. “We saw how quickly the disease affected her, so we took a pro-active approach and began putting together this ride to raise awareness and dollars,” says Reale.

A few short months later, Local 2193 retiree Ed Bigger was also diagnosed. “With two people so close to us affected by this disease, everyone wanted to help,” says Williams. “Several Local 2193 fire fighters agreed to ride in the Tour de Vie and others offered to help with the first aid tent and check points throughout the event’s three separate rides.”

The Tour de Vie was held on Reale’s mother-in-law’s birthday, November 7, at Walsingham Park in Largo, Florida, and included three cycling routes – a 5-miler, a 25-miler and a 100k.

The ALS Association works to fund research and provide medical care for patients suffering from the disease. ALS attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Within five years, patients lose the ability to walk, speak, eat and breathe. It is fatal and currently has no known cause or cure.