Recap: Nov. 14-20 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Sat. November 14 Today Ben covered 54 Miles. He started the day off on the Trail at 3 AM - and ended the day about a half hour after midnight. There was at least one break during the day where he met Rick to re-fuel. It was, according to Rick, the hardest day yet - and they were lucky enough to have a place to sleep thanks to Mary Hill at the Mountain Harbor Hiker Hostel.On a side note - Ben had radioed into Rick at some point near the end of the day that he was having a hard time orienting himself. Since the radio picks up when Ben is within a mile+ of the car, Rick knew he was nearby.  Like the true coach that he is, Rick told him to get his head back in shape and find the Trail. Tough love, but soon enough, Ben's headlamp appeared in the distance. To give you a sense of Ben's mindset when he returned - he had assured Rick that he was "perfectly fine" and didn't need the extra attention.  ----------------------------------------------------------------------  Sun. November 1627 miles. The post-midnight arrival last night pushed wake up to 7 AM. Ben was on the Trail by 9. 20 degrees out.Carver's Gap – Elk Park area (elevation, 5,500 ft)Slept in the car for the night.  Mon. November 17 Rick Reports: A thin film of snow sits over the ground. Not enough to stick to the plants.Ben is shooting for 44 miles today - having awoken at 4 AM and headed out on the Trail at 5 AM. Rick expects him "home" at 9. PM funny slip of the tongue... 

Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} Hello! It's November 22nd, and a reportedly chilly day out on the A.T. We would like to introduce you to our Hero today, Tammy Brown. We thank her for allowing us the glimpse into her day-to-day experience living with ALS, as well as a sense of how this has re-fashioned her way of thinking and approaching relationships. In learning of Tammy's story, we also learn of a family full of heroes, putting in great effort to support the community dealing with ALS, and one-another. We thank you Tammy and the entire Brown Family - for offering your story and inspiring so many of those (so many of us!) in your orbit. Have a wonderful day today, and be Well,  *Team 2175 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Life changes with ALS | By Tammy Brown    In 1990, at the age of 18, I married the love of my life, Scott.  That same year I started working for Wal-Mart.  I wanted to move up with the company so in order to do that we had to go where the company wanted us to go.  We moved several times the first five years we were married.  I went into management for Wal-Mart running the automotive center in several different stores. 

      Potterfield   MorfordHolt Donnelson Bauer v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} It is important to thank those around us whenever we have the chance - and today Team 2175 for ALS would like to express our gratitude to our friends at GreatOutdoors.com who have been posting our Blog to their outstanding website, each and every day since Ben began on the Trail. Because of their contribution of online "real-estate," and extra-ordinary support in raising awareness for ALS - we are able to connect to a far wider audience than we could have otherwise reached. Their support has enabled us to share the stories of ALS Heroes from not only one – but two platforms. Thank you for hoisting us up on your shoulders, GreatOutdoors.comGreatOutdoors.com is a special partner in the campaign to bring visibility to the ALS community; In this age of Internet, web-space is a commodity – and we recognize how fortunate we are to be featured - not only on the GreatOutdoors Blog - but also in an article written before kick-off and highlighted on the HomePage.

November 21. We are happy to introduce you to Bobby Brannigan - our Hero on this clear and sunny Friday. Bobby has been part of this journey, keeping tabs on Ben's progress since the early days in New England. Not only has he been helping us to spread the word of 2175 through Internet Blogs and forums - but has opened our eyes to a wealth of resources and incredible stories of ALS Heroes. He pointed us toward Learning to Fall, by Eric Lowen, to the story of Stephen Heywood - and to the PatientsLikeMe website; In fact, PatientsLikeMe now maintains a Registry, "intended to help Persons with ALS (PALS) reach out to each other and stand up and be counted"; it originated as a mailing list that Bobby started.   Patients Like Me Website Patients Like Me RegistryOur Team is inspired by the work Bobby has done toward building an online community for PALS - and directing his energies toward ALS advocacy. We are eager to share with you, not only his story - but also to two videos of Bobby taking on the world of Extreme Sports: Skydiving! Not for the faint of heart. Ben and Rick hope to get the chance to meet him in person on their way back North. Our Team sends out a big thank you to you, Bobby!*It's a Beautiful Day -Don't let it Get Away*Team 2175 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello ALS community and Supporters of ALS, We are so excited to be 5 days away from the finish on Springer Mt. in Georgia, Monday November, 24th in the very late PM hours!  Ben has been pushing extra hard through the very difficult Tennessee and North Carolina sections of the trail.  The ending 300 miles seems to be just as difficult as the first 300 miles through Maine and New Hampshire.  What a way to end such an epic trek.  Today Ben starts the very difficult 2 day section of The Great Smoky Mountains.  

Today, November 20th, we celebrate Stephen Heywood - and the Heywood family. Stephen was diagnosed with ALS when he was 29 and set off a chain of events that spurred  his brother to create the ALS Therapy Development Institute. Please take a moment to follow the links provided at the end of the article to learn about the ALS-TDI, meet the Heywood family, and watch the videos from So Much, So Fast - a PBS Documentary filmed between 2000-2004. You will want to visit the website created by the Heywoods (and the ALS registry on the site, spearheaded by Bobby Brannigan) -- called PatientslikeMe.com - an incredible resource for the ALS community & pALS. Stephen died in 2006 at the age of 37 - and we are honored to bring his story - and that of his family to you today.*Be Well,Team 2175  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Introduction from the PBS Documentary, So Much, So FastApril 3, 2007 To access this original article, please click here.  What would you do if you were 29 years old and found out that you only had a few years to live? Stephen Heywood chose to get married, have a child and rebuild two houses while he was slowly losing control of his body's movement from a crippling disease. In So Much So Fast, Academy Award-nominated directors Steven Ascher and Jeanne Jordan capture the remarkable events set in motion when Stephen Heywood discovers he has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} Happy November 19th! Team 2175 introduces you to  today's Hero, Jim Culveyhouse. His story was featured on the MDA website (Muscular Dystrophy Association - ALS Division) as part of a series last year inspired by Augie Nieto. [Click Here to access]. Be sure to take a look at Jim's website where he works to raise money and awareness of ALS. Thank you for sharing your story Jim - and giving us the chance to learn from you today!*Be Well,Team 2175----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} Name: Jim Culveyhouse Hometown, State: Merrillville, IN

Today - November 18th - our Hero is Ryan Van Praet. We discovered Ryan's story through that of the Ironman competitor Jon Blais and the Blazeman Foundation. Ryan wore Blais' bib # 179 in honor of Blais in the Lake Placid Ironman last year - and was also named the Ford Every Day Hero at that competition. The the newsletter published by the Blazeman Foundation explains:"Ryan knows ALS in a very personal way. His father, Adelard was diagnosed with ALS the same year that the Blazeman log-rolled over the finish line in Kona [Hawaii]. After seeing Brian Breen [Ironman competitor] race for Jon in 2006, Ryan had this to share with Kevin Mackinnon from Ironmanlive, Jon's story and Brian's story, and Team Blazeman in general, gave me a new focus. To honor my dad, to show the world that he is a true Ironman because of the kind of determined person he is in life. To show the world that he gave me what I have, he treated me like any other boy, let me fall, and pick myself up, try things most thought he shouldn't let me try because I could hurt myself, or get embarrassed or embarrass him - I am now going to race as a member of team Blazeman if I can, to raise awareness for ALS. The perspective I have gained says that: "Yes I may go blind, but I will still be able to move, swim, bike, run, live! ALS doesn't give you that chance, so now I know where my priorities lie.I race for my dad, because if it weren't for him, I'd most likely always be one step behind and on the outside looking in. He gave me inclusion, he gave me courage, he gave me pride, now it's my turn to try and give back."Click here to access original newsletter

Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } Good Morning Team, today is Monday, November 17th and we introduce you to Ken Patterson Sr. On April of this year, Ken took off from Orlando, Florida - on his wheelchair - and rode to Washington DC. He did this so that others might take notice of ALS and be inspired into action. Ken's tenacity is extraordinarily impressive - thank you Ken & Glenda! *Be Well, Team 2175 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rolling Over ALS: Orlando to D.C. ... by Wheelchair Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} Sunday, 18 May 2008, 11:13 PM EDT Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

Please feel free to send Ben and Rick a congratulatory letter or note via the final trail mail stop in Helen, Georgia.  *** The letter must be received by Saturday, November 22nd***, just 2 days from the finish, in Georgia!  Please do not send any goods, just a simple letter or note congratulating the boys for completing such an epic journey for ALS. Thank You to all who have sent Ben and Rick cookies, letters, and other goods via trail mail along the 2,175 mile journey. How To Send A Congratulatory Letter To Ben And Rick Via Trail Mail... ******************************************************************************************************************************Address the Envelope:  ***The letter must be received by Saturday, November 22nd***, just 2 days from the finish. The label must say...                      TO: BEN DAVIS                      "General Delivery"                       Please hold for Thru-Hiker                       Helen, GA 30545******************************************************************************************************************************       That's it! Have a blast...

Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} Today, November 16th, our Hero is Eric Lowen. Eric has been a singer and songwriter for 20 years with Dan Navarro - and last year, recorded the song "Learning to Fall," bringing together those in the ALS community to help record the track. This video, along with several other links, can be accessed below. Thank you Eric! Our Team admires what you do.*Be Well,Team 2175 -------------------------------------------------------- Eric Lowen: Video Profile  Lowen & Navarro: Homepage  Learning to Fly: Lowen on Traveling with ALS  Learning to Fall: Lowen & Navarro  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Happy Saturday! Today, November 15th, we celebrate Hero Jack Orchard. Jack began Extra Hands for ALS, an organization that connects high school and college volunteers to people with ALS. This is a fascinating /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;}   organization and we admire Jack's work in building these bridges. *Be Well!Team 2175------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jack's Bio:Jack Orchard is the Founder and Chairman of Extra Hands for ALS and the Jack Orchard ALS Foundation. Prior to his work in the fight against ALS, he was the founder and Managing Director of various companies including iSpringboard, a venture capital firm, Red Square Software, a software development company, and United Financial Group, now Russia's largest independent investment bank. He serves on Advisory Boards of the ALS Center at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center and the NeuroRestoration Research Initiative affiliated with the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore. In 2005 Jack was named as one of nine finalists in Volvo of North America's Volvo For Life Award which recognizes ordinary people who go above and beyond the call of duty to help others. He has an A.B. in economics from Harvard and an MBA from Stanford.  Jack's experience with ALS and the creation of Extra Hands for ALS:

Good Morning to the 2175 for ALS community! It is Friday, November 14th and we will be celebrating Mervin Cale today. Thank you, Ginny for sending us this amazing story and tribute - and for introducing us to Mervin's selfless spirit. Here's to you both!*Be Well,Team 2175 -----------------------------------------------

Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} Sunday November 4th Ben covered 27 miles today.We had several visitors today - including Karen (Team 2175) Ben's parents, Tom and Karen, his brother Matt (distance runner), and Dwight, Ben's colleague and friend. The distance everyone had traveled that day to meet with us was significant - and appreciated deeply. We gathered together over dinner at a local restaurant, while enjoying the warm company from "Home".  At one point, we were asked for ID's – spurring a scramble through pockets and wallets. Ultimately, this required a trip back to the hotel where everyone was staying for the night – but Dad Davis, adventurous spirit that he is, was more than willing to make the trip. Coffee topped off a wonderful evening.  Monday November 5th Karen, Ben, and I got off to a 4 A.M. start; today, Ben was aiming for 34 miles on the Trail. Together Karen, Ben and I worked together like a finely tuned machine in order to get everybody breakfast, out of the hotel and back on the trail by 6 A.M.

Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} Good Morning to All! It is Thursday, November 13th and we are celebrating Tim Formigan as our Hero today. Tim was an instructor of martial arts - and it seems clear that he had the gift of teaching, passing on a love of the art to his students and friends. The article below was written in 2006, Tim recently passed away from ALS. Thank you, Will for your words of encouragement and for bringing your friend to our attention. We are honored to be able to share his story. Wishing you a wonderful day ahead, *Team 2175 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This article was originally published in The Journal Group online in Aug. 2006. To access, please click here.  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Today, Wednesday, November 12th - we celebrate a Hero-dad. It was clearly submitted with love - and we thank you for allowing us to share it with the 2175 for ALS Team. Embrace the day - it is ours to celebrate today, *Team 2175 ---------------------------------------- Hero-Dad | (submitted w/o name) Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} My story begins January of this year. I received a call from my sister saying "Dads in the hospital. He has been having trouble with his blood pressure and, remember a few months ago when he said he had been feeling weak". I reply " Oh, yes. I remember."  In my mind thinking, 'well your parents are getting older and unlike no other this happens all the time, he'll get pills and he's fine but, when he gets home we'll have to cut out all his red meat. Boy, won't that be an obstacle'. 

Today is Tuesday, November 11th and our Hero today is Brett Snyder. We had the opportunity to meet Brett at an earlier stage along the journey and learning about the TackleALS Foundation, Inc., of which he is president. Brett, thanks for all the amazing work you are doing!*Be Well,Team 2175---------------------------------------------  This biography can be found on the TacklsALS website - and by clicking here.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} Letter From the President of Tackle ALS Foundation, Inc. -- Brett Snyder In this day and age it is hard to believe that an illness exists without a cure. Yet every year 5,000 new people are diagnosed with ALS and thousands more die. I for one find this totally unacceptable. More attention needs to be focused on this disease for a cure to be found. We can no longer afford for ALS to hide in obscurity.

Today - November 10th - meet Jon Blais. This is one of the men who prompted Ben to create 2175 for ALS and the reason he is out doing what he is doing, right this minute. Let's learn from Jon today - and do on thing today for someone we love. *Be Well,Team 2175   Watch Videos on Jon Blais 

• Jon Blais - The Blazeman - YouTube

• The Meaning of Life - YouTube

•  Everyday Hero

 Born and raised in southern New England, Jonathan S. Blais had always been an elite athlete and multi-sport competitor. Given a death sentence in the form of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease) in May of 2005, at the age of 33, Jon accepted his diagnosis and decided to do incredible things with it. He began waging a War on ALS from the beginning. This was his way of dealing with it; this is how he lived out his days... fighting for research and raising awareness.

Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} Thursday Oct. 30th Today was a 25 mile recovery day. Report from Rick: I greeted Ben today at the 20 mile mark, with 3 Wendy's burgers in hand. He has just 5 miles left for the day so I parked the car and prepped the food, loading on ketchup and salt - just like Ben likes 'em. After locking up the vehicle at a convenient intersection, I headed North on the AT to meet  Ben with just 1 mile left. As I reached 1 mile, however - no Ben. Thinking he had slowed his pace, I continued.  2 miles -- and still, no Ben. Puzzled yet undeterred, I thought, 'well, he must have been going very slowly today' and I kept moving forward. A few steps later, it occurred that maybe Ben had actually been going much faster than I anticipated - and we've managed to miss each other entirely. After 3 miles and no signs of Ben, I thought it best run back to the car; he MUST have passed through the intersection before I pulled over and parked.

Today was the best day of our journey thus far.  We were able to meet up with Dan Wright, a marathoner who has had ALS for quite some time now.  We visited Dan in his hospital room today around 6pm.  When we arrived to the room, we were instantly greated by 12 people. There were 14 of us total.  The room was filled with electricity.  We chatted and laughed with Dan.  He told us about his marathoning and mentioned some of his favorite races.  Dan has some very cool, high tech computer equipment provided by The ALS Association.  Dan enjoyes sending and recieving e-mail and is currently coaching a runner training for his first marathon.  The money that we raise from this project will be used to provide equipment like this to other people with ALS.  A great reason to donate $1 today! The room was full of energy.  An electric vibe was present the entire visit.  Looking around the room, everyone seemed to have a big smile on their faces.  The room was buzzing.  It was such an amazing expierience, the highlight of our trip thus far.    We took many pictures and visited for what seemed like, not even close to, long enough.  We will remember Dan and his lively spirit for the remainder of our journey.  Our journey has just began.  We beleive that this journey we have taken on to spotlight ALS has just begun and will continue for many years to come.Thank you Dan for being such a positive influence on so many peoples lives.  -Rick and Ben-