Runners' steps help beloved teacher

Monday, October 29, 2007

By SCOTT FALLON
STAFF WRITER



RIDGEWOOD -- They came out on a cold Sunday morning to raise money for their old gym teacher who was now in a wheelchair and struggling to be cared for.

There was Andrew Edghill, 16, who had recently taken up cross-country running in part to honor Jack Elwood, who loved the sport.


There were David and Lynne Feeney, whose two grown children used to rave about Elwood's gym class when teenagers usually rave about nothing.

And there was Nancy Reilly, who helped get 300 people to run around Ridgewood High School on Sunday so her former colleague's life could be a little easier.

Jack Elwood must have touched a lot of people during his 34-year career at Ridgewood High, because the show of support at the 5K run was palpable.

For the fifth time in as many years, former students, teachers and parents raised thousands of dollars for Elwood, who suffers from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

The disease slowly destroys a person's ability to move their muscles. There is no known cure.

Elwood is wheelchair bound and has little movement of his arms, a sharp contrast to five years ago, when he ran in his own event.

Organizers have raised $80,000, which has paid for a customized van and renovations to his Oakland home. But Elwood's health policy doesn't cover a full-time caregiver, which he now needs.

"Right now he really needs someone there for an eight- to 10-hour day because I work," said Elwood's wife Laura, a fellow teacher. "It's not covered at all."

The race kicked off with a starter's pistol while the high school band played.

Elwood completed part of the course in his motorized wheelchair with Laura by his side.

When asked by Reilly if he finished the entire route, Elwood smiled.

"No, I took a shortcut," he said softly. Everyone within earshot laughed.

Later in the morning, a group of volunteers ate muffins and drank coffee in the school cafeteria under a banner made by students "Everybody Loves Elwood."

They recalled his sometimes unorthodox curriculum called Project Adventure, which included rock climbing and balance tests a few dozen feet off the ground.

"My kids would always come home talking about him," said David Feeney. "And you know how guys are: 'What did you do at school today?' 'Nothiiiiing.' "

Edghill finished first despite never competing in cross-country until this summer. The junior had Elwood for driver's ed last year when the disease was not yet as debilitating. Elwood retired in June.

"You don't know what kind of things will affect a child," said Edghill's mother, Deborah. "He was always a basketball player, not a runner. Now he's running and it's for a good reason."

Toward the end of the event, students came up one by one to say goodbye to Elwood. Some had tears in their eyes. Elwood raised his limp right arm and made a point to shake everyone's hand as best he could.

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