win the battle
Team Sailing Anarchy: My name is Scott Thomson and I am writing on behalf of my Dad John B Thomson Jr. The reason I am writing is because we are doing a fundraiser called "THE WALK TO DEFEAT ALS". My Dad has been battling with this disease (more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease) for the last three years. If you don’t know him personally I’m sure you have heard of him. John is well known for his long support, participation and success in racing sailboats. A founding member of the International 50′ class with his legendary “green boat” Infinity in the late 80’s and as one of the original Farr 40 owners (# 4 Solution and # 135 Infinity), he won the first two North American Championships in 1998 and 1999. Having been commodore of the Storm Trysail Yacht club and spearheading the development of many iconic race weeks through out the world. He has the reputation of being the highest respected and corinthian owner/skippers ever. His accomplishments on the water are only exceeded by his accomplishments off the water as a sportsman and leader.
John Thomson has defined what almost any sailor aspires to be in life…A true gentleman, fine yachtsman, world champion across many classes, inspiration to all on the docks and someone who knows how to run a Triple-A+ program that everyone has the best time participating in….The Thomson family have all captured his spirit. To honor him they have created Team JULIET BRAVO TANGO INFINITY (JBT FOREVER) to participate in the Walk to Cure ALS. To join our effort, please visit our team page.
The following is from his daughter Vicki: “Unfortunately there is nothing anyone can do for him as at this point there is no cure. So my brothers and I have put together a team to do "The Walk to Defeat ALS" in his honor in New York this coming weekend. We have been recruiting family and friends to help in this endeavor. It’s kind of funny, he’s such a private person and really tends not to tell anyone what has been going on with him, so we weren’t sure how he would feel about us doing this. So we put the team together and quietly got to work on it. When we took the opportunity to mention it to him, he was so touched it brought him to tears. It’s such a cruel disease, especially for someone like him who was such an active and vibrant person. He’s pretty much incapacitated at this point. But this weekend he expressed his desire to go do the walk with us (he will be in his power wheelchair) – which given his condition and how he’s been feeling, is a huge feat – so I am doing everything in my power to make that happen…and make it a big victory for him.”
With that said, we are doing the New York Walk to Defeat ALS this Saturday, May 5th.
So far we have raised over $22,000. Our team has quickly risen to the number one spot as far as donations…but that’s not enough. We want to raise more money and more awareness about this terrible, fatal disease.
Why We Need Your Help
Often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, fatal neuromuscular disease that slowly robs the body of its ability to walk, speak, swallow and breathe. The life expectancy of an ALS patient averages 2 to 5 years from the time of diagnosis.
Every 90 minutes a person in this country is diagnosed with ALS and every 90 minutes another person will lose their battle against this disease. ALS occurs throughout the world with no racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic boundaries. This crippling disease can strike anyone. Presently there is no known cause of the disease yet it still costs loved ones an average of $200,000 a year to provide the care ALS patients need. Help make a difference and donate or join a walk today.
Friends, family or anyone whom John has touched throughout his life are invited to join us in support of this cause. We would love to get as many people possible to join us for the walk. If you are not able to actually do the walk, you are still invited to come and show your support. We will have tee-shirts made up for everyone to wear so we can take a group picture before the start of the race. Once again, YES, John will be attending the walk!!!
We know not everyone can make it to the walk, so we ask that you make a donation. Any amount is welcome since every penny will go towards finding a cure for ALS. Together we can make a difference in the lives of those affected by Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Our team is committed to raising money to support people in our community with ALS and spread awareness of the urgency to find treatment and a cure. Please consider joining our team in the Walk to Defeat ALS® or choose a team member from the list and donate to our cause. Thank you for your support.
The Thomson Famil
