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Richfield Springs community raising funds for ALS research in honor of former teacher
By JESSICA ARSENAULT-Telegram Staff Writer
Published: Thursday, March 8, 2007 11:54 AM CST
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RICHFIELD SPRINGS - She enlightened and changed students' lives for years as a teacher at Richfield Springs Central School.

Now, as she battles mysterious Lou Gehrig's Disease, those students and fellow teachers plan to honor her with a benefit to raise money for research of the disease.

Ellen Beirne, 63, of Herkimer, taught at Richfield Springs for nearly 30 years before retiring in 2001. In 2005, she was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, better known in the U.S. as Lou Gehrig's Disease.


Now, as she battles the disease, which doctors know little about, her former students and co-workers are rallying around her.

“She's had a tough time with it,” said Mary Weingates, a science teacher at Richfield Springs. “We wanted to let her know we care, but we didn't know what to do because, sadly, there's no ‘Get well,' yet. So we figured if we could raise money for research of ALS, then maybe all those who have suffered with the disease won't have been in vain.”

Weingates and a large crew of school officials, students and community members have planned a two-day benefit to top all benefits, scheduled for Friday and Saturday at the Richfield Springs school.



Friday's events will begin after school at 4:30 p.m. with a spaghetti dinner and Chinese Auction. Both will run until 8 p.m.

“So many in the community and businesses have pitched in, donating things for the auction,” Weingates said. “It started out as just a group of teachers planning this benefit but it quickly grew to a community-wide event. It's really neat how it blossomed out.”

Perhaps the gem of the night will be a volleyball tournament in which a group of Richfield seniors has challenged a group of teachers. That game begins at 7 p.m.



The Chinese auction and a cash-prize raffle will continue into Saturday and run from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Co-sponsoring the benefit is Threivent Financial for Lutherans.

While Beirne will not be able to attend the benefit herself, Weingates said she plans to film the event so Beirne can watch what went on in her honor.



“The battle with ALS is a tough one but she's keeping her spirits up,” Weingates said. “I guess that's all you can do.”

“She's overwhelmed that the teachers and community would do this for her,” said Beirne's husband, James Beirne.

All proceeds from the two-day event will go to ALS research within the Multiple Sclerosis Association.



ALS is a motor neuron disease in which degeneration in the brain and spinal cord cause muscle weakness and atrophy and eventually paralysis.

According to the ALS Association, the disease generally begins with weakness in the hands, arms or legs, or difficulty swallowing or speaking. As the disease progresses, the weakness increases until the patient becomes paralyzed. Eventually, the muscles that control swallowing and breathing become paralyzed as well.

In most cases, patients diagnosed are expected to live only two to five years, though in a very few cases, such as that of world-famous Physicist Stephen Hawking, who has lived with ALS for more than 40 years, the disease has inexplicably stopped progressing.



Despite great strides in research throughout the past 10 years, doctors still know little about the disease and it's cause, and have few choices in treating it.

ALS generally strikes people between age 40 and 70, but can not definitely be linked with any genetic or lifestyle factors, race or ethnicity. It is a disease that can strike anyone, anywhere.

The ALS Association estimates that there are currently about 30,000 people in the United States with the disease.
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