When Kelly Hutson, a graduate student in public administration, received a flier from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in May, she didn’t realize the impact that piece of paper would have on her life.
The flier got Hutson involved in a 5K race. She said she became a runner by default and met the love of her life while running around the campus lakes.
That first 5K race also was the inspiration for Hutson to head up “A Home Run for ALS,” a 5K race and one-mile fun run this Saturday, Nov. 1, in downtown Baton Rouge.
ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease after the Yankee first baseman who died from the disease in 1941. It is an incurable, progressive disease that attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing patients to become totally paralyzed in the later stages.
“I thought, if I can raise $3,400 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, how much money can I raise for a cause that’s near and dear to my heart?” said Hutson, whose mother died from ALS in January 2001. “What we’re trying to do by holding this event is to bring awareness to Baton Rouge about the disease.”
Hutson said the important thing people should know about the disease is that while it seems to cripple people, their minds still function normally.
“It robs them of their independence, so awareness is what this is all about,” she said.
Louisiana does not have any local chapters of the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association, the only national nonprofit voluntary health organization dedicated to fighting ALS. But Hutson said she plans to change that.
To set up a Baton Rouge chapter of the association, Hutson said she needs seven influential people who can raise money to volunteer to serve as a board of directors. Once she finds a board, she will hold an open meeting for anyone who wants to get involved.
“Many people want to volunteer, they just need a direction or a cause,” she said. “And I’m all about being everyone’s cause.”
Creating a local ALS Association chapter also will help Phi Delta Theta fraternity, which holds a see-saw competition each year to raise money to fight the disease.
“I’m very excited about getting this thing off the ground,” said Justin Estes, an architecture sophomore. “Maybe we can build it up now that we have some local support.”
Gehrig was a member of Phi Delta Theta, so nationally the fraternity is committed to raising money to fight ALS through supporting the ALS Association and the ALS Society of Canada.
Estes said a local chapter also will allow the money the fraternity raises to stay in the area and help members become more involved in volunteering.
Hutson said she hopes to have a local ALS Association chapter started by the time she graduates in May.
Registration for Saturday’s event will begin at 7:30 a.m. at Main Street Market, with the one-mile fun run starting at 8:30 a.m., the 5K run at 9 a.m. and the 5K Walk at 9:15 a.m.
Singer/songwriter Kirk Holder will perform from 10:30 a.m. to noon, and people can bid on several items, including LSU memorabilia, in a silent auction until 11 a.m., Hutson said.