Racing Against ALS

Thursday, November 01, 2007

By Ambrosia Sarabia

Headed to China - Nick Scandone recently qualified for the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing. The Orange County native was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease in 2002, and since then has turned his full-time attention to competitive sailing.
Photo by: Rick Roberts/underthesuunphotos.com


Sailor Nick Scandone beats the odds to qualify for Olympic competition.

NEWPORT BEACH - Nick Scandone always had aspirations of earning an Olympic medal, but those goals were pushed to the backburner when he realized he couldn't rely on sailing to bring in a paycheck that would allow him and his wife to live comfortably. Like many other athletes, he allowed his passion for boating to become a weekend pastime and got himself a "real job."

It was not until he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also called Lou Gehrig's disease, in 2002 that he decided to quit his job and began to go after his sailing dream once again.

"When I was diagnosed, I worked for a year and a half - and then I decided I needed something to look forward to," said Scandone, who returned to Orange County Oct. 16 after a lengthy stay in Newport, R.I., for 2008 Olympic Trials. "I found sailing to be something to keep my mind clear and looking forward to something, which is very important."

Now, at age 41, the Fountain Valley native has reached his goal of qualifying to sail in the Olympics. Scandone and crew Maureen McKinnon-Tucker qualified for the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing, China, allowing him a chance to earn the medal he had always dreamed about.

"It feels very satisfying," he said.

Scandone and McKinnon-Tucker of Marblehead, Mass., had been sailing with each other a little over six months before qualifying for the Paralympics in the SKUD-18 class Trials.

Like Scandone, McKinnon-Tucker was driven to the sport when she was confined to a wheelchair after a fall.

"It wasn't until racing was taken away from me that I realized how much it meant to me," she told US Sailing.

Scandone, who began sailing at Balboa Yacht Club when he was 7 years old, has raced in a variety of boats - including Sabots, Lasers and Lido 14s - in hopes of someday obtaining that Olympic medal.

He also led a University of California, Irvine sailing team to national championships in the 1980s, and he competed in the U.S. Men's Olympic Team Trials in 1992, in the 470 class.

In 1992, he decided that the expense of competing had become too costly. Scandone took a job in advertising and retail equipment sales.

Everything changed in March 2002, when Scandone received a phone call from his neurologist on his way home from work.

"I'm pulling into my driveway and getting out of the car, and he says, 'Have you ever heard of a disease called ALS? Or Lou Gehrig's disease?'" Scandone said. "And I said, 'The only thing I've ever heard about it is the guy died before he was 40.'"

The news came as a shock to Scandone, then 36, and his wife, Mary Kate.

Lou Gehrig's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. As the disease progresses, motor neurons die and the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. Early symptoms differ, as some may experience muscle weakness in hands, arms and legs or the muscles of speech.

About 5,600 people are diagnosed with ALS each year in the United States - about 15 new cases a day. Half of all people affected with ALS live at least three or more years after diagnosis. Twenty percent live five years or more and up to 10 percent will live more than 10 years.

In Scandone's case, as the disease started to progress, his intensity for racing began to increase. After he stopped working, he discovered more about disabled sailing and began to train and race.

He took first place in the 2.4 Metre Open World Championship on Elba Island in Italy in Sept. 2004 - "open" meaning for both able and disabled competitors. A total of 53 of the 87 competitors were fully functional and the other 33 were disabled.

In 2005, he was selected as Rolex Yachtsman of the Year - the highest honor for American sailors.

However, Scandone faces many other challenges every day - off the water.

"I started with a weakness in my left ankle, and it has progressed to the extent where I use a power wheelchair because I can't walk," he explained. "I have difficulties even putting on a pair of gloves or carrying a heavy glass of water."

Scandone's drive to do all he can while he still has the ability has allowed him to overcome many hurdles the disease has placed before him and sail to the best of his ability.

Scandone's qualification for the Olympics was celebrated at Balboa Yacht Club Oct. 25, when the club held a fundraiser for him. The club has held many for him throughout his career.

"The only reason I have gotten to the point where I am is due to support," he said. 'Back then, it was in hope that we get to the games - and now we know we are going, and so now all this support is actually sending us to the games."

The sailors will begin training for the games soon, and will begin more consistent training in January. To find out more about Nick Scandone, visit www.alove4sailing.com.

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