Gala honors Woodall, Laura's League
By BETSY FLAGLER
DavidsonNews.net



Laura Woodall of Davidson is this year's Black & Blue Gala honoree for raising money and awareness for ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. The Feb. 23 dinner and dance at Wachovia atrium in downtown Charlotte is sold out.

Laura Woodall is the guest of honor at the Black & Blue Gala, where the dress code is "Harley Black Tie" - anything from black tie to blue jeans.

"I'm excited about the gala and the idea of an entertaining evening, all the while raising funds for research and for diagnosed patients," Ms. Woodall said. "This is a wonderful opportunity to recognize the efforts of Laura's League."

LAURA'S LEAGUE

On Valentine's Day two years ago, after painful testing, the mother of two girls found out the culprit for her muscle weakness: a progressive motor neuron condition that falls under the realm of ALS.

With the help of 24 friends and husband John Woodall, Laura formed "Laura's League" last year and raised more than $100,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The MDA is the top fund-raiser for research of motor neuron diseases, including ALS.

"We could not have done this anywhere else but in our close-knit community, or without the far-reaching support of our families and friends," Mr. Woodall said last year toward the end of the fund-raising. A Davidson College graduate, he is chief financial officer at MetroTech Automotive in Charlotte.

The goal of this year's Black & Blue Gala is to raise another $100,000 for the ALS Division of the MDA, mainly through corporate sponsorships and live and silent auctions.

"Laura is this year's honoree because of her commitment to help raise funds and awareness of ALS," said Amy E. Bunting, program coordinator for the Muscular Dystrophy Association in Charlotte.

PERSONAL CONNECTIONS

About 30 percent of the 450 guests who will attend the gala are family and friends of the Woodalls, particularly Laura's League team members, Bunting said. Other community and business leaders throughout the Charlotte area also will attend to support the MDA. Harley-Davidson of Charlotte is sponsoring the event.

"We have several individuals and organizations with very personal stories about their connection to ALS, MDA and Harley-Davidson," Ms. Bunting said.

Through the gala, Laura continues her goal to help others by "putting a mom's face" on motor neuron diseases. She has said she tries to strike a balance - raising public awareness without overwhelming her daughters Amelia, 8, and Abigail, 6. The girls, who attend Davidson Elementary School, will make a brief appearance at the event honoring their mother.

One Laura's League team member, Amy Klett of Davidson, has helped pull together the gala. Amy said recently of her friend:

"Laura is a powerful inspiration to everyone who knows her, not just because of who she was before her diagnosis but also because of the grace with which she lives her life since her diagnosis. People have been inspired to support ALS research because of having first-hand contact with Laura and her family. I think lots of people are planning to attend the gala because of Laura, because of the nature of the cause, and because people in Davidson pride themselves on supporting their friends and neighbors."

WANT TO HELP?

Tickets for the Black & Blue Gala are sold out. But you can still buy raffle tickets for a chance to win a 2008 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy valued at $17,994. Tickets are available at Harley-Davidson of Charlotte, Mac's Speed Shop or by calling MDA at 704-567-2912. To make a donation, mail a check to the MDA at 5950 Fairview Road, Suite 320, Charlotte, N.C., 28210.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE

March 10, 2007, "Laura's League raises $100,000 for MDA"

March 6, 2007, "Coping with illness, mom helps others."

http://rabbit.he.net/~davidsn/2008/0...lauras-league/