Events 2008

Every year, the ALS Association Orange - County Chapter holds a number of exciting events to raise both funds, and awareness about ALS in our community

Our calendar of events this year gets a running start with the L.A. Marathon in March, tees off for the Golf Tournament in May and goes the distance in the Walk to Defeat ALS in November.

You are invited to get involved!

ALS Awareness Day at Angel's Stadium

Would you like to attend the Angels Game for ALS Awareness?

Only a few tickets left!  First come first served!

The Orange County Chapter is very excited about this year’s Angels game on August 26. This year’s event will focus on raising awareness of ALS and will also encourage fans at the stadium to get involved in the fight against this disease by joining our 2008 Walk to Defeat ALS. 

This year, as in years past, the Angels will welcome PALS and their caregivers onto the field in a pre-game Opening Ceremony. During the game we will be showing The ALS Association’s very moving walk PSA [public service announcement], Because You Can.

We need 6 to 8 PALS and their caregivers to participate in an on-field Opening Ceremony at home plate. Complimentary tickets available for the PALS and one accompanying caregiver who participates.  Volunteers taken on a first come, first served basis.  For more information or to sign up contact Jennifer Druke at 714-285-1088 or by email at jdruke@alsaoc.org. 

Come out to the ballpark and show your support!

Date: Monday, May 19, 2008
Location: Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club
Download Brochure/Registration form here

Plans are underway for our Fifth Annual 2008 "Drive Out ALS" Golf Tournament, which raises funds for ALS patient services right here in Orange County.

1. Ask your company to sponsor a foursome or a hole.
2. Ask vendors or companies that you use (ie: banks, car dealers, department stores) to become a sponsor or donate auction items.
3. Send out the Tournament Brochure PDF to all those in your e-mail address book and ask them to help support the event.
4. Purchase a hole sign in honor of or in support of a friend or family member with ALS.
5. Volunteer for our Auction Items Committee or volunteer on day of the tournament.
6. Encourage friends and family members to attend the dinner/auction — tickets are $50 each.
7. Let individuals know they can golf with us, too.
8. Ask your company to sponsor a foursome or a hole. (It's worth repeating this idea!)
9. Talk up the tournament to your friends, co-workers, neighbors and anyone who will listen, as the more people at the event, the more successful it will be.
10. Print this list out and keep it at your desk as a friendly reminder.

Remembering Doug Ousterman Husband, father, friend, neighbor, co-worker Doug Ousterman was all of these.  The Mission Viejo resident was diagnosed with ALS at just 41 years old.  An avid lifetime golfer who started at age 7, Doug noticed his first symptom on the golf course when he lost his grip on a putter.  The active runner and swimmer was confined to a wheelchair by 2004.  One of his deepest regrets is that he would not be able to teach golf to his young children, Hannah and Oliver. Doug died of ALS in 2005 at 42 years old. ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Irvine attorney Rick Salus is the driving force behind the 5th Annual Drive Out ALS Golf Tournament, scheduled for Monday May 19th at the Arroyo Trabuco Golf Course in Mission Viejo. A friend and neighbor of Doug Ousterman, Rick remembers the Memorial Day block party in 2003 when the Oustermans first talked about Doug’s ALS.  A seasoned volunteer and philanthropist, Rick’s response was to organize the Golf Tournament to benefit the ALS Association Orange County Chapter.  It had to be golf, “This was Doug’s game”, said Rick.  He appreciates the support of Tournament sponsors and players, “The repeat customers year to year are pretty amazing.” When asked about his continuing inspiration for the Tournament, Rick says it’s the people “The PALS who are suffering from ALS seem to have a positive spirit these people seem to fight on and live on.” To sign up for the Golf Tournament, contact Lynda Bartlett at lbartlett@alsaoc.org

XXIII Los Angeles Marathon - Sunday, March 2nd, 2008
(click here to make a donation to this event)

The LA Marathon 2008 "This year’s Marathon, as in years past, provided a day to love, support, and encourage our Marathoner, Marce, and her family.  For the entire ALS community the Marathon raised not only financial support but awareness as well.  Ultimately, the Marathon is a day of hope for all of us.  With heartfelt appreciation for all who participated." Mark Hershey Chair, 2008 LA Marathon Marce's Story by Marce Pasternak During the marathon, I wished I had my computer so I could write what I was thinking along the way. Instead, I am going to try to recap my experiences today, the day after.  I confess, there are some people who rolled me whose names I can’t recall.  I will title this the Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Please click here to continue.... (click on photo to view album)

As a chosen charity of the L.A. Marathon, the Chapter fields teams each year to “roll” the distance!  Team members take one mile each to roll a PALS through the 26.2 mile course. 

Contact Lynda Bartlett at the Chapter office for more information at (714) 285-1088 or lbartlett@alsaoc.org.

The funds raised through the efforts of our PALS Marathon team will go directly to support patient services in Orange County, as well as to our national ALSA funded research for the cure.

How to Help: Join us in 2009! 

Remembering Martin Mooney The Marathon tradition was begun by a very special Orange County PALS - Martin Mooney. Diagnosed with ALS in 1999, at just 37 years old, Martin chose to make his statement of life and hope by being a "runner" in the Los Angeles Marathon. Seriously ill by 2000, Martin "ran" the course again. A few weeks later, he was gone, from complications of ALS. Every year, we honor his spirit and his courage as we roll through the course with our PALS marathoners.

OUR SPONSORS
Some of the foundations, companies and individuals that sponsor our events: 

Agility Logistics
Allstate Foundation
American Ironwoods
Apria Healthcare
ATG Designing Mobility
Aubrey & Associates
Beckman Coulter, Inc.
Biofreeze
BioTene
Butler-Justice
Cla-Val Company
Dave & Buster’s
Doctor’s Ambulance
Excel Cabinets, Inc.
First American Title
Ford of Orange
Foundation Pile, Inc.
Fullerton Community Bank
GVA Daum
Hart’s Rugs & Carpets
Bob & Mimi Holcombe
Hyundai Motor America
Justice & Associates
Lehigh Cement
Leiner Health Products
Mitsubishi Cement
Northern Trust
Pacific Life Foundation
Paralyzed Veterans Association of America
Society of Industrial & Office Realtors
Star Landscape & Maintenance
Temecula Valley Bank
Total Real Estate Investment Brokers, inc.
Wal-Mart
Wells Fargo

We extend our thanks to all the sponsors that help make our events happen.