[BobbyB]

Woonsocket's Jeanne Bouley is hitting a homer for ALS research

07:25 AM EDT on Friday, July 25, 2008

By PAUL KENYON
Journal Sports Writer


Jeanne Bouley (second from right), an ALS patient; her husband Arthur, and daughters Michelle Beausoleil (second from left) and Donna Goldstein.


WOONSOCKET — When the Red Sox and Yankees begin their weekend series at Fenway Park tonight, not everyone in the stadium will be focused on the rivalry between the teams.
For one family from Woonsocket, the series opener will showcase how much good can happen when people work together. In this case, the Red Sox will be holding a ceremony to donate a huge amount of money aimed at finding a cure for a disease brought to public attention by one of the Yankees’ all-time greats.

If all goes as planned, Woonsocket’s Jeanne Bouley will be at Fenway with her family to present a $4.4-million check for amyotropic lateral sclerosis (ALS) research.

Bouley is not certain she will be able to attend because she is more than six years into her own personal battle with ALS. As recently as last week, she was in the hospital for treatment of problems related to the disease.

“We hope very much she can do it, but we’re not sure,” Arthur Bouley, her husband says. “It’s been so wonderful what’s been done. We’re so happy they have raised so much money. We want it to help cure this disease.”

Jeanne Bouley worked for CVS for 21 years. She retired because of the disease. But she is the co-chair of a drive CVS has held each year since 2002 to raise money for ALS research. She was featured in a video put together by CVS and shown in its stores.

“They told us it was shown in 6,400 stores in 35 states,” Arthur Bouley says proudly. “They said they wanted to have a real person show what it is like, so they used Jeanne to do it. Last year, they raised $2.6 million, and they were hoping to do that again this year.

“Instead, they’ve raised $4.4 million. We’re so happy,” Arthur Bouley says.

Bouley is not alone. Those taking part in the ceremonies tonight also will include Jon Roberts, senior vice president and chief information officer for CVS Caremark. Roberts has led the campaign to raise money for ALS research since 2002. It was just about that time that his wife, Resi, was diagnosed with the disease. She died the next year.

“It’s a devastating experience,” Roberts said. “You never lose any mental acumen. It’s so very difficult to go through.”

CVS operates the fundraising program in conjunction with the Red Sox, which is why the ceremonies will be held at Fenway tonight. The program now has raised $15 million for ALS research.

The Bouley family has learned firsthand how terrible the disease is. Arthur Bouley has been his wife’s prime care-giver, along with the couple’s daughters, Michelle Beausoleil and Donna Goldstein. Life expectancy often is two to five years for those who contract the disease. Jeanne Bouley is six years into treatments. Like so many ALS patients, she is taking experimental drugs that it is hoped one day will help patients better deal with the disease.

Last year, she was able to throw out the first pitch. This year, she will not be able to do that. She needs machines to help her breathe, but she has made it clear she very much wants to be at Fenway for the ceremonies. The donations came $1 at a time at CVS stores.

“She gets anxious and she has trouble breathing,” Arthur Bouley said. “She’s so proud, she wants to be there.”

Tom Ryan, the CVS president and CEO, who grew up a Yankees fans in New Jersey, will take part, as will Red Sox pitcher Mike Timlin and his wife, Dawn, as well as doctors working in ALS research and treatment.

It is one issue on which the Red Sox and Yankees totally agree.

pkenyon@projo.com

http://www.projo.com/redsox/content/...0.3e808e9.html