Tracy Schach, who suffers for Lou Gehrig’s disease, stopped in Dickson last week on her 2,000 trek from Austin to Boston to spread word on the illness and hopefully gather some money for research. (PATRICIA LYNCH KIMBRO/THE HERALD


Boston to Austin trek for ALS

By Patricia Lynch Kimbro
The Dickson Herald


As she continues her trek from Austin to Boston, Tracy Schach says she’s met a lot of wonderful people on her journey.

Schach, the sister of Boston Red Sox pitcher and Texas-native Mike Timlin, was in Dickson Thursday on her 2,000 mile-walk-that began on March 2 from Austin, Texas. She is trying to raise money and awareness about ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), more commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.




She and her late mother Sharon Timlin were both diagnosed with ALS in March 2001. Her mother died less than a year later at the age of 60.

ALS is an incurable, neurological disease that is a progressive degeneration of motor neurons in the brain. It leads to paralysis and death, which usually occurs within five years.

Through her grief, Schach felt she’d found a way to help her mother’s legacy live on and help others who are battling the disease.

“I feel every person I’ve met along the way was put there by God. I know I will come away from this with some life long friends,” Schach said.
Schach said she is trying to walk 25 miles per day.

Giving her moral support and help along the way while traveling in the 20-year-old Winnebago is her son Robert Schach and her nephew Gary Sheppard – they offer peanut butter sandwiches and plenty of water. Schach calls the R.V. her “pace car.”
People who want to help monetarily can send a donation to “Tracy Austin to Boston ALS Awareness Walk” in care of The Angel Fund, 649 Main Street, Wakefield, MA 01888.

The Angel Fund is an independent non-profit organization benefiting ALS research at the Cecil B. Day Neuromuscular Research center at the Massachusetts General Hospital.

Funds are also needed to help defray some of her walking expenses. These donations can be made directly to Walk Expenses, in care of Tracy’s Autstin to Boston ALS Awareness Walk, 16308 Westview Trail, Austin, and Texas 78737.
Schach’s journey through 11 states will end with the 4th Annual Sharon Timlin Memorial 5K Race to Cure ALS in Hopknton, NA on June 16. The event is to honor her mother and benefit the Angel Fund.

The Angel Fund has been working with Schach and has been keeping track of her progress on her Web site theangelfund.org. She welcomes and encourages local residents and other ALS families and supporters to join her and cheer her on as she walks through Dickson and other cities in Tennessee.

Information about the walk and the Angel Fund can be obtained by contacting Ann Hadley at 781-245-7070.