// BONUS ONLINE-ONLY COVERAGE By Jeanie Yaroch, Cape Cod Curling Club
sionate Care ALS was the grateful recipient of more than $40,000 generated by the efforts of curling club members and CCALS volunteers and donors. Pairing novice curlers, who’d committed to raising a minimum of $1,000
Generosity delivers big donation C
urlers are known for their generosity and kindness, but the day’s take from a one-day fundraising event sponsored by Cape Cod Curling Club surpassed even their own expectations. Compas-
to field a team, with experienced volunteer coaches from the curling club, the competition showcased the spirit and camaraderie of curling, as well as the gratitude, loyalty, and friendship of many kindred spirits all too fa- miliar with the challenges of living, and dying, with ALS. Also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, ALS is an incurable, terminal illness in which patients gradually lose control of their voluntary muscles. Te winning team was coached by Falmouth’s Pete Mitchell and Brigid
O’Connor and was made up of Falmouth Airpark residents Bob and Lori Bisbee, Joe Chronic, Roger McDowell, Pete Walsh, and Joan Garner. But the real winner was CCALS, whose founder, Ron Hoffman, was him-
self among the new curlers taking aim at the broom on the other end of the ice while also developing a healthy respect for the intricacies and complexi- ties of curling. In accepting the check from curling club president Steve O’Neil, Hoffman acknowledged the “extraordinary” efforts of the many curlers and other volunteers who made the event possible and successful. Hoffman paid special tribute to Betsy Heald, whose husband Gordon died from ALS in 1998, for being a visionary collaborator in creating and grow- ing CCALS. Te organization provides essential support to individuals and family
members coping with the unpredictable nature of ALS by offering a variety of services and equipment, home visits, referrals, and access to educational programs and workshops. Among the competitors was Patty Oakley, whose husband Doug died
from ALS this past April. A sizeable and passionate group of Doug and Patty’s friends and relatives was on hand, some of them curling and some of them vociferously cheering. “Te work CCALS does is unbelievable,” Oak- ley said before leading the audience in a brief, energetic and heartfelt cheer in honor of Doug. Also competing were brothers Michael and Alex Abrahams of Welles-
ley, Mass., along with five of their friends from either childhood or college. Marc Abrahams, the brothers’ father, is an ALS victim and was unable to attend the competition. Although the spirited team joked that they had been told they were 2018 Olympic hopefuls, the conversation turned seri- ous when talking about CCALS. “Tey just facilitate anything imaginable,” said Michael. “Ron brings a happiness into our family situation.” “He’s a real spark plug,” added Alex. And perhaps there was some substance to that joke about the players’
future Olympic potential, as first-time curler Peter Jennings used the ham- mer to throw a double take-out in the final end to win the end and earn a come-from-behind tie for the team. Ted and Barbara Beriau of Osterville had intended to stop by briefly to
watch the competition, but ended up staying the better part of the day. In a wheelchair since his diagnosis with ALS in 2010, Ted found himself glued to the events on the ice, especially aſter learning about the wheelchair curling opportunities at the club. Before departing, he’d already made up his mind
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Ron Hoffman, executive director of CCALS, receives a check from Gretchen and Peter Partridge, long-time members of the curling club. Te one-day event raised more than $40,000 for the Falmouth-based charity.
Peter Jennings, 23, delivers a shot for Team Abrahams in the Curling with Compassion fundraising event held at the Cape Cod Curling Club in Fal- mouth on Nov. 25. Jennings threw the best shot of the day, knocking out two stones to win the final end.
to return to the club the next day to become a curler himself. For the Beriaus, CCALS has been “like a family.” Te couple has received
enormous emotional support, but also practical support, such as a liſt to fa- cilitate Ted moving from his vehicle to his driveway, a wheelchair designed for bathroom use, and a scooter to get around the yard. “All you have to do is make a phone call and they’re there,” Barbara Beriaus said. For veteran curler Paul Ketchum, a longtime member of the club, the
event offered the opportunity to blend his love of curling with his love of family. In honor of Ketchum’s nephew Todd, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2010, the family put together a team of Ketchum curlers led by Todd’s father Carl and coached by Paul. Todd’s three sons, Sam, Toby, and Nevin, made up the rest of the team, which battled valiantly as he and his wife Lau- ra watched from the warm room. Te family bonds held tight, placing the team in the finals where they finished as runners up in the third event. n
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