Morongo fire chief rides into the sunset

10:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, October 17, 2007

By JULIE FARREN
The Press-Enteprise

Phil Kelleher will ride his motorcycle for the last time this weekend.

Kelleher, 39, of Cherry Valley, has to give up riding his Harley because he is losing control of his hands.

He was diagnosed last month with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, which causes nerve cells to waste away and lose the ability to send messages to muscles.

His friends and former co-workers, Christy Pollard and Holly Bow, of the Riverside Community College Fire Academy, are helping Kelleher through tough times by organizing a fundraiser Sunday called "Ride With Phil," a motorcycle ride that will start in Riverside and end at the Morongo Indian Reservation.

Kelleher, who is fire chief at the Indian reservation, said he is touched by their efforts.

"I wasn't aware that I had that much support out there," Kelleher said.


Amanda Lucidon / The Press-Enterprise
Phil Kelleher, 39, of Cherry Valley, has to give up riding his Harley because he is losing control of his hands. He was diagnosed last month with Lou Gehrig's disease. His friends are organizing a motorcycle benefit ride from Riverside to the Morongo Indian Reservation, where he is the fire chief.
The ride starts in Riverside at 9:30 a.m. and will travel through Hemet and Idyllwild to the old Morongo Casino parking lot in Cabazon.

Pollard said the money raised will help pay for treatments not covered by Kelleher's insurance as well as transportation costs.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which affects about 1 in 100,000 people, is a progressive disease that leads to paralysis and often death within three to five years.

However, some patients have lived much longer.

Kelleher founded RCC's Fire Academy in 2001. Pollard and Bow, who met him at the academy where they still work, said they were devastated when they heard about their friend's diagnosis.

"We were extremely overwhelmed and extremely sad, and we're happy that we're able to do something," said Pollard.

Kelleher, who has a 9-year-old daughter, Tyler, and an 11-year-old son, Brett, with his wife, Missy, said he started noticing problems with his left hand in May 2006.

He had fallen off a roof and thought that might have caused his symptoms, he said. He had some tests done and learned of the diagnosis Sept. 4.

Kelleher said he has been losing control of his hands and is having trouble talking.

Kelleher, a former Banning resident, and his family are building a house in Cherry Valley. Since May 2006, they have been living in a trailer on that land.

This weekend's fundraiser has brought out a lot of emotions in Kelleher, he said.

"I'm bummed out that this will be my last ride," Kelleher said. "I've always been into motorcycles."

Reach Julie Farren at 909-806-3066 or jfarren@PE.com

'Ride with Phil'

A fundraising motorcycle ride for Morongo Reservation Fire Chief Phil Kelleher, recently diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease, is planned Sunday.

Registration: 8 a.m., Ben Clark Regional Training Center, 3423 Davis Ave., Riverside.

Ride: 9:30 a.m., through Hemet and Idyllwild to the old Morongo Casino parking lot, 49750 Seminole Drive in Cabazon.

Entry fees: $50 per rider, $10 for passengers.

Lunch: 11:30 a.m. at the casino. Tickets, $10 adults, $5 kids.

Activities: Fire and police department displays, entertainment, raffle.

Information: Christy Pollard, 951-571-6318.
http://www.pe.com/localnews/rivcount...8.3ad332e.html