Phi Delt helps organize 5K run to fight ALS

Ben Sales

Phi Delta Theta has partnered with Extra Hands for ALS to sponsor "Run For Your Life," a 5 kilometer race to benefit the fight against ALS, commonly called Lou Gehrig's Disease.

The race is an annual event started in 2003 and organized yearly by Jack Orchard, who also founded Extra Hands for ALS, a St. Louis-based organization that sends high-school and college students to volunteer at the homes of those with ALS. Orchard also suffers from the disease, which paralyzed most of his body.

This is the second year in which Phi Delt will run the event. Ian English, one of the coordinators of the race for the fraternity, said that Phi Delt hopes to attract more students by creating a fun and lively atmosphere around the running.

"We wanted to market to more students and get the campus involved," English, a senior, said. "It's going to be more like a party, with music and food."

In addition to the student population, English hopes to attract local residents to the race in order to raise more money for the cause and forge a greater connection between students and St. Louis.

"With the event closer to school we've seen a lot bigger turnout so far," he said. "Sponsors were a lot more excited about cont to an event where the whole city will be involved. It's a great opportunity for students to learn about the city."

The event provides another way to stand out beyond the physical competition, as participants are encouraged to run in costume. The inspiration for this, according to Orchard, comes from the annual Bay to Breakers run in San Francisco, where many runner dress up before setting out.

"I was looking for a way to produce a unique event that would appeal to our base of student volunteers," Orchard wrote in an email. "After all, who gets excited by yet another walk/run? Without a twist it's just not compelling."

While his race may be based off of others, the goal of Orchard's organization differs from that of most other foundations that raise money to fight the disease. Instead of funding research, the goal of Extra Hands is to provide everyday help to those paralyzed by ALS.

Through my own experience becoming paralyzed by the disease I understood how ALS could place enormous pressure on family caregivers," Orchard wrote. "Although I was committed to funding research, as I still am, I realized that my contributions to the fight against the disease could be much broader and more tangible if I could improve the daily lives of people living with ALS today."

Orchard added that the volunteer experience is as much of an assistance to volunteers as it is to those being helped.

"We have realized that Extra Hands can fulfill its mission more effectively by engaging ALS families as teachers rather than as victims," he wrote. "One of the many terrible things about ALS is that it strips away a person's sense of independence, self-worth, dignity, and ego strength. By approaching patients as teachers of the students who visit them each week, we can restore some measure of their mental well-being."

In that vein, several Phi Delt brothers have volunteered at Orchard's home, and plan to visit others in the future. English says that working with Orchard has been an eye-opening experience.

"It's been really cool working for him," English said. "He still has a sense of humor, his mind's still the same, he's a funny guy. It's been great spending time with him."

Phi Delt chapters across the country help fight ALS in different ways. Orchard said that the Washington University chapter's organizing the race speaks to several goals of Extra Hands.

"It's an important collaboration on several levels," he wrote. "First, given my commitment to youth leadership I thought it was important to have students run the whole event. Second, given Wash. U.'s stature in the neurosciences in particular, and in medicine in general, I felt that it was critical to establish as deep a collaboration as possible."

But though the race is expected to raise approximately $25,000 this year, Orchard-who has written a book about his personal experience entitled "Extra Hands, Grasping for a Meaningful Life"-believes that he has much more work to do.

"Most people over the age of 30 know someone who has or had the disease and yet they usually can't tell you what ALS stands for," he wrote. "I'd love to see Phi Delt chapters in each city competing with each other to stage the best and most profitable Run For Your Life."

The race will take place on Saturday, May 3, at 10 a.m. in Tower Grove Park and is sponsored by the University's School of Medicine, Anheuser-Busch and several other local businesses and organizations. More information can be found at alsrun.org.

Local students organize run to benefit ALS research

Event named after late husband of former teacher

By Kate Miller
Tuesday, April 8, 2008 2:18 PM CDT

From left, Webster Groves High School seniors Steve Davis, Andrew Dent and Forrest Dougan stand in front of the planning board for the seventh annual Jim Schoemehl 5k Run. The year, 40 students in the marketing II class are organizing the event.

At Webster Groves High School, the marketing II classroom is the buzzing center of operations for the upcoming seventh annual Jim Schoemehl 5k Run.

The students are wrapping up sponsorship deals, working with local businesses for concessions and spreading the word. The run will take place at 8 a.m. Saturday, May 10, at the school, and proceeds will benefit ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) research.

The marketing students organize the event as a class project that encompasses the entire second semester. Throughout the years, the event has raised more than $50,000.If dreams come true, the students will book a prominent St. Louisan to join the run this year. They asked, "Who knows or knows someone who knows someone recognizable?" They tossed around names such as broadcasters Bob Costas and Joe Buck, and St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa before event chairperson Andrew Dent, 18, interjects, "How many times do you think (La Russa) has run in the past few years?"

They make a mental note: La Russa may not want to run.

Getting a celebrity, they concede, is a long shot but worth looking into because celebrities are a draw.

"The more of St. Louis we get involved, the more money we're going to raise," said Steve Davis, 18, who is in charge of race day operations.

Andrew added, "The more sponsorship the better, because it helps pay for things ahead of time."

Once costs are paid, he said, everything else goes to charity.

The event bears the name of former Webster Groves High School marketing teacher Alicia Schoemehl's late husband. She left her teaching position to care for Jim, but comes back to talk to students as they plan the annual event.

"This is a huge deal to them," Schoemehl said. "They run it like a business; they do all the marketing, all the planning, finding sponsors.

"They learn about marketing, but also about life and community."

Forrest Dougan, 17, said professionalism was something students had to learn.

"The phone calls started as, 'This is ... like ... (so and so) from ... like ... Webster Groves High School,'" he said, imitating a meek and nervous voice.

The "likes" and other nervous gestures disappeared as the students' confidence grew.

For Steve, the coup was getting the official race T-shirts at a bargain. T-shirts are a big deal. Their teacher, Kara Siebe, said last year's event had 600 runners but the students sold 1,000 T-shirts.

"I think every student in the school owns a Jim Schoemehl T-shirt," Andrew said.

Steve negotiated with a couple of businesses to get the best deal. He recalled meeting with representatives of TeamWear Promotions, the company that eventually offered the winning bid.

"It was really formal," Steve said. "We talked around a conference table. He didn't treat us like kids."

They also learned about letdowns. Forrest originally signed up to co-chair a bike-riding segment to the run. Bureaucratic red tape made it impossible to accomplish in time.

"(Next year's marketing II students) literally would have to start planning now to have a bike ride next year," he said. Siebe assigns students projects based on their interests. She said they use math, English, art, computer and social skills as they make their way through the organizing phases of the event. Most of the work is done during class, and students are supervised but have to motivate themselves to meet goals, she said.

For many students, they are hearing about ALS for the first time. It is commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease. The disease causes the degeneration of neurons that control muscle movement. As it progresses, patients lose the ability to move, and in the last stages, they lose the ability to breathe.

Sara (Story) Krenski was a senior in Schoemehl's marketing class when Jim was diagnosed with ALS in 2001.

"She told the entire class and explained what ALS was, and told us that there is no treatment or cure, and that her husband was going to die," Krenski recalled. "She informed everyone that she had to stop teaching to help care for him."

The students didn't know Jim, but they wanted to support the teacher they cared so much about.

"She was one of those teachers that you could really look up to, respect and know you would always stay in contact with," Krenski said. "We felt compelled to do something to help. A run was the first thing I could think of that we could put together quickly."

Under the guidance of Jennifer McCormac, the teacher who had replaced Alicia Schoemehl, the students organized the first run in Jim Schoemehl's honor.

"The first year, we raised over $6,000 and the event has continued to grow every year," Krenski said.

Schoemehl said many students return year after year to participate in the run.

Jim passed away in 2003 at age 40. Their daughter, Bradie, is now 8. Schoemehl said her husband, whom she described as a "gracious and quiet" man, attended the first two events.

"It was a big compliment to us; to have his name attached to it is really an honorable thing," she said. "It means a lot to me."

By no coincidence, Krenski is the development coordinator for the ALS Association St. Louis Regional Chapter. In that role, she returns to her former high school to talk about ALS and how the run originated. She said each crop of kids she meets is just as enthusiastic as the previous.

"The kids feel they're a part of something bigger than themselves," Krenski said.

Forrest said he feels an adrenaline rush because he is doing something for a good cause.

Andrew said, "It's an amazing experience. It's a big event for any high-schooler to be a part of."

Steve said, "I wanted to do something real, that counted. I'm excited about it."

Registration starts at 7 a.m. and the run begins at 8 a.m. May 10 at the high school. The route winds through historic Webster Groves and ends back at the high school. Participants will get a commemorative T-shirt, refreshments and door prizes. The top three runners in each category will receive trophies. People of all age groups and skill levels are encouraged to attend.

Last year, the goal was to raise $8,000, and the students raised $13,000. This year's goal is $15,000. Money raised at the event will benefit the ALS Association, the Jack Orchard ALS Foundation and a local family living with the illness.

Want to participate?

What: Seventh annual Jim Schoemehl 5k Run

When: Saturday, May 10

Where: Webster Groves High School (upper parking lot), 100 Selma Ave.

Registration: 7 a.m.

Run time: 8 a.m.

Cost: $5 for kids, $10 for students, $15 for adults or $20 on run day

Call: (314) 918-4160,

E-mail: jimschoemehlrun@gmail.com

Website: www.jimsrun.com

Jack Orchard Day at Wydown Middle School

By Mike Bush
Copyright 2008 KSDK

Click here to see the KSDK cover story

(KSDK) -- Last month, NewsChannel 5 brought you the story of Jack Orchard, a local man living with ALS and using the time he has left to raise awareness and educate others about the disease.

Jack's charity, Extra Hands for ALS, gives high school and college students the opportunity to help families dealing with disease. After the story aired, his network of volunteers not only expanded, but grew younger.

It was not just any old Thursday at Wydown Middle School in Clayton. Today is Jack Orchard Day, a celebration that got its start thanks to the initiative of Andrea Hermann, 14.

"Everybody talks about charities like AIDs or Race for the Cure, and this one doesn't have that much stuff out there, doesn't have that much publicity, so I thought it would be really cool to bring it around here," says Hermann.

On this very special day, students were able to buy rubber bracelets for a dollar and pay 50 cents to wear their favorite hat.

"Well, my dad went to Las Vegas and came back with this hat. So I've worn it since fifth grade, it's really fun," says sixth grader Mo Mills.

"Since it was hat day and for a cause, I decided to wear just a green funky hat," says eighth grader Ali Planels. "It's one day until Spring Break, why not wear a hat when it's going to charity?"

Proceeds benefit Extra Hands for ALS, a charity started by Jack Orchard, 40. He's not only an ALS patient, he's the inspiration for Thursday's gathering. Though the disease has robbed him of the ability to speak, technology and a caregiver help him communicate with students, like eighth grader Allyson Sanders.

"It's really special, I was scared at first, because I thought that seeing him would kind of scare me, but after seeing him I understand that he's going through a lot," says Sanders.

Guidance Counselor Lynn McGraw says raising money for Orchard's charity gives these young people a purpose, and the opportunity to make a difference.

"Andrea was so inspired by him, that he was going to take this and work with it and really have a purpose in his life that would carry on, and I was inspired by Andrea and so were the kids at Wydown," says McGraw.

"It just think it's so interesting that he's got such a positive outlook on life," says Hermann. "Because he's got this horrible disease and it's amazing that he's doing all this, and he wrote a book, he's got the whole charity thing going and he's just happy all day and that's really great."

Students collected several hundred dollars for Extra Hands. They also raised interest about the 5k Race and Party to Fight ALS on May 3, 2008.

Breaking schmooze: A rose is a rose is a fund-raising flower

By Deb Peterson, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME: In an unprecedented gesture, a branded florist's rose will be used to raise funds and awareness for charities related to Lou Gehrig's disease, ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). Dale Rohman, St. Louis' nationally renowned floral designer and entertainment expert, is partnering with Rio Roses to introduce the ALS Rio Rose. Along with profits from the sales of the roses, tens of thousands of the flowers will be donated to ALS organizations for fund-raising events. The national launch of the new ALS-awareness symbol will be Nov. 15 at the Chase Park Plaza. World Champion Boston Red Sox pitcher and longtime ALS supporter, Curt Schilling, and his wife, Shonda; and former U.S. Sen. John Danforth, and his wife, Sally, are honorary chairs of the event. Jean Hobler, of "Hope Happens," and Lois Orchard, of "Extra Hands for ALS," are co-chairs. Proceeds from the event and some related activities will benefit Hope Happens, The Hobler-Maritz Foundation; Jack Orchard Foundation and Extra Hands; and the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association, St. Louis Regional Chapter.

Big hair, big heart: Simpson costume wins in benefit

By Glen Sparks, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 30, 2003

Amy Hankins put on her running shoes Saturday morning and fastened a mountain of blue hair to her head. She was serious. She had a honeymoon vacation to win.

Hankins ran in the first 5K Run for Your Life costume race at Tower Grove Park in about 30 minutes - pretty good considering she was wearing a cumbersome Marge Simpson costume. Her get-up also included a dress, a red necklace crafted from Christmas decorations and a coat of yellow paint that she daubed on her face, arms and legs.

The judges decided that she bore a striking resemblance to cartoon slob Homer Simpson's long-suffering wife. They awarded her and her fiance, Blake Tilley, with a free weeklong trip to Mexico.

Hankins, a Hill resident, held the first-place certificate high over her head - but still not above her towering blue'do - and said, "This is our honeymoon. We're going on a honeymoon."

Some of the runners whom Hankins beat for the top price included a Roman gladiator, Tinkerbell and Peter Pan, a bridal party, Tarzan, and Jack of Jack in the Box restaurant fame. "I think I have a pretty good chance at winning," said Hankins, 27, as she awaited word from the judges. "My costume is all handmade. I think that's going to help."

She and Tilley crafted the hair from a large piece of thick paper. They glued cotton balls onto the paper and painted the whole thing blue. Tilley, a huge Simpsons fan, wanted to make something attention-getting.

"You see these Marge costumes at the store, and they're just a foot or so above her head," he said. "But you watch the show, and that hair takes up about half her body."

Hairdos that tall can be a bit wobbly. Hankins took her hair off for much of the race to keep it from falling off or hitting a tree branch. She finished in 38th place among the women. Maggie Conley, 19, took first with a time of 19 minutes 9 seconds. Aaron Young, 33, finished first overall. He completed the race in 19 minutes.

Conley and Young were given an assortment of prizes, including an MP3 player. Run for Your Life benefited several organizations that are fighting amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, including ALS HOPE: The Chris Hobler/James Maritz Foundation; Extra Hands for ALS; and the Jack Orchard ALS Foundation.

ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, is a rapidly progressive and always fatal neurological disease that attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord and leads to paralysis. About 80 percent of patients die within two to five years of diagnosis.

No treatment for ALS exists, and scientists cannot identify a cause. At any one time, 30,000 people in the United States are battling ALS. The disease does not discriminate by race or gender.

Doctors diagnosed Orchard with the disease in 2001 at the age of 34. A 1985 graduate of John Burroughs School, Orchard studied economics at Harvard and graduated with an MBA from Stanford.

He helped start a successful investment bank in Moscow and a software company in San Francisco. Then he began noticing persistent muscle twitches and cramps. He and his wife, Eve Tetzlaff, left the Bay Area and established the nonprofit Jack Orchard ALS Foundation last year. The foundation supports scientific research into near-term therapies to extend the life expectancy of patients and helps families coping with the disease. Orchard said he hoped Run for Your Life could become a fixture on the St. Louis running scene and a successful fund-raiser for ALS. About 600 people took part in the event on a gray, drizzly day.

"This just shows how generous and how supportive the people of St. Louis are," Orchard said from his wheelchair. "It's part of the miracle of St. Louis."