Iron Horse Ball raises $250,000 for ALS patients, research
The Event: Chicago’s iconic Cultural Center provided the backdrop for the National ALS Foundation’s IronHorse Ball on February 23. Some 350 attendees came to lend support and honor those suffering by raising critical funds against this incurable disease.
Steve Gleason, former professional NFL safety, received the Grid Iron Horse Award. Ann Saunders of Barrington, received the Iron Horse Caregiver Award. Parker Beam was presented with the distinguished Spirit Award. Daniel Alan Trout received the courage award and Andrew Wasilewski the Iron Horse Award.
Cause célèbre: “The services that we provide are unlike any other disease-based non-profit,” said Maryilene Blondell of Lake Forest, director of development. “Every 90 minutes one person is diagnosed with ALS and one person loses their battle with it. So there is an urgency with what we’re doing.”
ALSAGC partners with six institutions throughout the Chicagoland area and Rockford, Il., for patients to see physicians. Additionally, the organization leverages its federal funding and private donations to provide in-home visits, equipment, transportation, respite care and grant programs all free of charge.
“We provide literally every single solitary thing that (patients) need and…we never charge anything for any of our services,” said Blondell.
Evening honoree, Steve Gleason, former professional NFL safety currently battling ALS, was awarded ALSAGC’s Grid Iron Horse Award. Fellow player and former Chicago Bear, Stephen Douglas "Steve" McMichael, accepted on Gleason’s behalf.
“These are who heroes are in this world,” said McMichael, speaking to Gleason’s foray into spokesmanship for ALS. “He goes outside of his problems and does something to help other people that are afflicted with the same thing, that’s a hero.”
Advocacy and public policy chairman, Toby Kucharski of Des Plaines, was in Washington D.C., earlier that day to advocate for federal funding for ALS Research.
“Any veteran is at a 2-1 greater risk. Nobody knows why,” said Kucharski explaining that federal aid has been averages approximately $6.5 million dollars a year. “The ask I made today was for $10 million (and) they understand that something needs to get done.”
Bottom line: IronHorse raised nearly $250,000 for the ALSAG.
