05/13/2006
Coventry students make strides for ALS
By NICOLE WIETRAK

COVENTRY - Students at Flat River Middle School are taking a stand - err, run - for ALS.

This Saturday, May 13, Flat River Middle School is hosting a 5K walk / run to benefit the Amyotrophic Lateral Schlorosis Therapy Development Foundation (ALSTDF). The race, which has been organized almost entirely by nine student-run committees, will begin at 10:00 a.m., with registration beginning at 8:00 a.m.

Every year, over 150,000 people are diagnosed with ALS and the disease claims over 400 lives every day.

Most commonly known as "Lou Gehrig's disease," ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Although the disease brings on the loss of voluntary muscle control and potential paralysis, ALS does not affect the cognitive functions of the patient.

Even 70 years after the discovery of ALS, there is still no cure or effective treatment for the disease, and the average person diagnosed with ALS carries with them a two to five year life-span.

But all of the medical facts and statistics have not stopped Jonathan S. Blais, a 34-year-old Special Education teacher and Seekonk, Mass. native, who was diagnosed with ALS almost two years ago.

Blais, who goes by the alias "Blazeman," is a veteran triathlon racer who did not let the disease put an end to his racing days. He now travels across the country, raising money and awareness for ALSTDF. One of his greatest achievements was his completion of the 2005 27th Ford Ironman World Championship in Hawaii.

In early December, students at Flat River Middle School had an opportunity to meet with Blais and hear the story of his battle with ALS.

As the students watched the NBC sports profile of Blais during the Hawaii Ironman competition, unbeknownst to them, Blais was sitting in the audience. After the segment was played, Blais emerged from the crowd and was hailed with applause.

"The kids were just so overwhelmed," said eighth grade teacher Maureen Martineau, who has helped the students organize the event.

According to Martineau, the planned 45-minute question and answer session Blais was scheduled to do that day turned into four hours of intense questioning from the middle school students.

"The experience was so valuable, we just never went back to class," she said.

Eighth grader Jacqueline Haynes was so touched by Blais' story, she was brought to tears.

"I started crying when he told us about his battle because it's such a heart warming story," said Haynes.

Haynes, who is Chairperson of the Public Relations committee for the project, had her work cut out for her over the past couple of months, trying to get the word out about the race in as many forms possible.

After Blais spoke with the students, they were so affected by his words that they decided to raise money to help his cause. The kids' collective effort of fundraising brought forth over $2,400 of donations, but for them, they wanted to take their mission further.

Saturday's 5K walk / run, which began as wishful thinking on the students' part, has evolved into a reality that has already raised over $16,000.

Because of the time and manpower needed to organize such an event, the students hired a consultant from Brown University to help with the race's framework.

The consultant was so taken with the student's enthusiasm, said Martineau, that he waived his fee and began to donate his time on a weekly basis to help the kids.

"My room has never been so busy in the 11 years I've worked here," said Martineau. "This is the biggest commitment I've seen from students since I've been here."

The endeavor will be counted as the eighth grade's service learning project, although students from all the middle school's sixth, seventh and eighth grades have become involved in the event.

Martineau is hoping that the project will be able to be used as a template to show all schools statewide what a successful service learning project looks like.

Last Wednesday, the students in charge of the race presented their efforts to Supt. of Schools Kenneth R. DiPietro and Assistant Supt. Vincent J. Hawkins, Ph. D.

"What started as a class project has turned into a statewide fundraiser," said eighth grader Erin Cooney, the class spokesperson behind the project. "We had to do something."

After the presentation, Hawkins asked the students what commonality they shared with Blais, in terms of both of their efforts in organizing fundraisers to benefit ALS organizations.

One student responded that both parties were raising awareness of the disease and the toll it takes on an individual and their family, but Hawkins stated that it was more than simply that.

Hawkins said the students were demonstrating perseverance in taking on such a huge project, that they remained focused and dedicated to the task at hand and that they were learning how to tackle obstacles head on, even when facing bumps in the road.

"You are all phenomenal fundraisers," said Hawkins.

DiPietro mirrored Hawkins' praise by expressing how impressed he was that the race was essentially completely student driven.

"Flat River Middle School is making its mark in Coventry," the superintendent said, noting that the experience of organizing the race was not only a service learning project, but community service as well.

"I just can't tell you how proud I am," he said, "I'm going to make every effort on my part to join your 5K."

The walk / run will be held at Flat River Middle School, 1675 Flat River Road in Coventry. The entree fee is $15 if registered before May 9, $18 for those who register online at www.alswarriorpoet.com after May 9, and $20 the day of the event.