Miles for Monte raises $12,000 for ALS research
 

Miles for Monte raises $12,000 for ALS research
BY LINDA BLASER | STAFF WRITER
lblaser@pioneerlocal.com

It had been eight years since the Briners of Lincolnsire last laced up their walking shoes to participate in "Miles for Monte," a walk their dad, who died from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), started in 1989.

But after Emily Briner DeMayo looked around at all the families affected by Lou Gehrig's disease at a benefit at Wrigley Field in July, she decided it was time to bring back the "Miles for Monte" walk her father began in Lincolnshire so long ago.

A team of 25 "Miles for Monte" walkers and two team dogs raised some $12,000 in pledges during the walk, held in downtown Chicago last weekend.

Though her father died ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, eight years ago and was diagnosed 14 years before that, little has changed for those afflicted with it.

"It's pretty mind-boggling," she said.

ALS typically affects people in their 20s and 70s; most people are given a prognosis of three or four years.

That's why DeMayo and her mom Debbie Briner of Lincolnshire co-captained a "Miles for Monte" team in the Les Turner ALS Walk4Life at Montrose Harbor on Saturday.

Monte Briner was the driving force behind the original "Miles for Monte," a benefit held in Lincolnshire during the 1990s that raised nearly $1 million for ALS research and drew more than 1,200 people in its final year.

"Our hope was to raise money to go toward research so that young families struggling with our exact situation won't have to face that heartache any longer," said Debbie Briner. "I would've hoped by now (22 years later) they would have treatment, if not a cure. It's been a long time."

Younger sister Liz Briner of Lincolnshire, who now works for the Les Turner ALS Foundation, said the timing was right to bring back her dad's walk.

"I felt that after eight years it was time to go out there again," Liz Briner said. "It has been so long and there's still no new discovery. Obviously, there still needs to be a lot of money raised" for research.

Jim Derleth of Deerfield, a close friend of their dad's and one of the founding members of the original "Miles for Monte" annual event said he was "ecstatic" when the Briner girls called him. Derleth jumped at the request.

"It was such a terrific event," he said. "Miles for Monte was such a labor of love for all of us."

Monte's death hit many people personally, Derleth said.

"Now seeing his daughters trying to drive it (the walk), it just touches your heart," said Derleth, who is now a member of the Les Turner Foundation board. "It was a wonderful opportunity to honor Monte's memory again."

Contribution still can be made to Miles for Monte at www.milesformonte.org.

"Ultimately, we want to find a cure," DeMayo said of why she and her family and friends walked this year. "Because it's a neurological disorder, ALS is linked to Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's. Once a breakthrough is made in understanding one of the diseases, the others will follow."

Debbie Briner said she is proud of both of her daughters for taking steps to try to find a cure for ALS.

"I definitely think Monte is smiling down on both of them," Debbie Briner said. "He'd be absolutely thrilled."

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