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The 3rd Annual Romeo Athletics Charity Row/Run will be held on
Saturday, June 22nd 2019
at Romeo Athletics in Enfield, CT!

On Saturday June 22nd, 2019, we are
hosting our 3rd Annual Charity Marathon Row! Numerous teams of five
people will be rowing a marathon (42,195 meters) at Romeo Athletics in
Enfield, CT, to raise awareness and funds to help in the fight against
ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). We
are requiring each team of 5 people to raise a
minimum
of $500.00 for this event. All proceeds will go directly to
Tucker Wood, a family member of the Romeo Athletics community who is
currently battling ALS.
ALS is a terminal neurodegenerative disease that affects 6,000
new patients each year, and leaves them prisoners in their own bodies.
On July 7, 2016, at only 33 years old,
Tucker was diagnosed with ALS. The diagnosis came as a complete shock
as his only symptom was cramping in his wrist which he attributed to a
soccer injury. The doctor shared the unfortunate news that
not only is there no cure and extremely limited FDA-approved
treatment for ALS, but the life expectancy after diagnosis is 2-5
years.
Tucker has been a preschool teacher for
the past 12 years while also pursuing his love of photography and
music in his spare time. He loves to travel, cook, camp and spend time
with friends and family. His happiest and top priority, though, is
being a father. Despite the diagnosis, Tucker and his wife, Lauren,
welcomed their beautiful, healthy and happy daughter Eloise, in
February of 2018.
ALS affects each person differently and
for Tucker it began by affecting the use of his left arm and then
moved to his right. To date Tucker has minimal use of his arms and
lacks fine motor skills within his hands. His legs are still
considered strong, however, his gait is affected due to other symptoms
thus making him prone to trips and falls. Due to his progression, this
Spring represents his last year of teaching and he will be unable to
work moving forward.
Without a cure, the inevitable
progression will continue to limit Tucker's independence. He currently
relies on his wife or others for simple daily tasks such as dressing
and feeding himself. Unfortunately, driving and even walking will soon
be activities of the past.
All of the proceeds from the Charity Row will go directly the
Wood family to alleviate the mounting medical bills and the
expensive costs associated with Tucker’s day-to-day living and
necessary care.
The estimated yearly medical cost associated with caring for an
ALS patient in the US is $150,000-$200,000. ALS,
like cancer, can affect anyone. Young or old. Male or female. Every
race, religion, and socio-economic class. It doesn’t discriminate
based on who you know, where you grew up, or who your parents were.
Nearly 90% of ALS patients have no family history of the disease.
Thank you for supporting our charity event! You are truly
helping to make a difference.