LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Orinda Country Club Golf Tournament Focuses on Fighting ALS


Participants at last year's Drive for a Cure ProAm golf tournament, from left: Adam Henderson, Buck Worthing, Brian Griggs, Matt Chaney, PGA Pro, and Chris Barnard. Photo provided by The ALS Association Golden West Chapter

The Orinda Country Club (OCC) lost its fourth member to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), more commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, with the passing of Mark Schimbor earlier this year, following former members Ziyad Sulyman, Dr. Robert Beallo and Cliff Wingo who also lost their fights over the past five years to ALS. The OCC has hosted a special golf tournament, Drive for a Cure ProAm for the past five years, raising approximately $450,000 to support The ALS Association Golden West Chapter. This year's golf tournament is scheduled for Monday, June 25.

ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks nerve cells and pathways in the brain and spinal cord. When these cells die, a person loses their ability to walk, move, talk, swallow, eat and, ultimately, breathe while all five senses and, in most cases, their minds remain sharp and alert. The average life expectancy of a person with ALS is two to five years from time of diagnosis. The annual costs for home care and necessary equipment (speech, mobility, transportation), can easily exceed $200,000 per year, many not covered by insurance. ALS can strike anyone. It knows no racial, ethnic, gender, or socioeconomic boundaries, though research has shown that military veterans are at twice the risk.There is little known about the causes of ALS and there is no cure.

With recent advances in research and improved medical care, many people with ALS are living longer, more productive lives. While there are many research efforts investigating possible risk factors, more is needed to unlock the mysteries of this devastating disease.

For information about the OCC Golf Tournament, call the Orinda Country Club golf shop at (925) 254-0811, e-mail golfshop@orindacc.org, or visit the event website- www.driveforacureproam.org. For more information about ALS, visit the ALS Association Golden West Chapter's website at www.alsagoldenwest.org.