I\'d like to take this time to commend Dave and Paul and everyone else who are joining together to fight ALS, a horrific disease whose effects I\'ve witnessed firsthand.
In my job as a sports writer for the North Haven Courier, I wrote a story on a man named Paul Carr, who used to coach American Legion baseball in Hamden, a suburb of New Haven. Paul was was diagnosed with ALS about a year-and-half ago and as you all probably know it is not something from which you recover. A good friend of Paul\'s, Charlie Flanagan, who coaches North Haven\'s American Legion baseball team, joined forces with Paul\'s wife, Kate, to help raise money in order to fight ALS. As of December, which was the time that I learned of their efforts, nearly $70,000 had been raised that went to the Connecticut chapter of the ALS Association and the Yale University School of Medicine’s Department of Neurology. Their goal is to raise $500,000.
Additionally, Coach Flanagan asked if I would write an article on Paul Carr that detailed the fund-raising efforts and talked about aspects of his coaching career, his relationship with Flanagan, and just the overall kind and funny person that Paul is. I twice interviewed Paul, Kate, and Coach Flanagan at the Carr house, and though it was difficult to see someone is such a weakened condition, the strength that all three of them--especially Paul--displayed in discussing ALS and their efforts to fight and ultimately defeat it, is something that will remain inside my heart and mind for the rest of my life. It really puts things into perspective to see people be so strong in the face of such a tragic situation. It was my honor to write the story and was an equal honor to have Paul, Kate, and Coach Flanagan commend me on my effort. I truly felt like I had done something good by writing an article that helped raise awareness about something so bad.
My experience with this situation made me want to donate to the cause of Paul, Kate, and Coach Flanagan\'s fight of ALS, which I did. And when I found out about Dave and Paul Ryan\'s efforts, I certainly wanted to do the same.
I encourage everyone who reads this do make a donation, regardless of the amount. It is true what they say: every bit makes a difference.
Thank you for reading this.
