A Cure is Coming for the Tucker family
By Danielle LeBlanc JOURNAL CORRESPONDENT

For most people thinking of a "walk for a cure," their thoughts usually immediately turn towards finding a cure for cancer, heart disease or diabetes.

Walking for a cure means something different for the Tucker family of Westminster.

Their husband and father, Tony, was diagnosed with ALS - also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease - 13 years ago. The disease is neurodegenerative, meaning it attacks the neurons in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle function.

"Sometimes people are nervous around him, they don't really know what to say," said Tony's daughter, Bridget, 23. "He's still an intelligent person, he just can't really express himself."

Bridget is the oldest of Tony's daughters, who also include Mackenzie, 20, and Rachael, 18. She has told her dad that he "has to hang on so we can find a cure," and is doing her best to make sure that happens.

For the second year in a row, she is spearheading Team Tony for the ALS Therapy Development Institute's "A Cure is Coming!" Walk. The fourth annual walk on the 14-mile course in Lexington takes place on Saturday, May 17.

When the motor neurons can no longer send impulses to the muscles due to ALS, the muscles begin to atrophy, causing increased muscle weakness, according to the ALS Therapy Development Institute. ALS does not usually affect a person's intellect, vision or hearing.

The normal life expectancy for a person diagnosed with ALS is three to five years after diagnosis. ALS is fatal because the muscles of the respiratory system weaken; only 10 percent of patients with ALS live for more than 10 years with the disease. Tony Tucker is one of those rare few. Although he breathes using a respirator and is fed through a feeding tube, he can still smile.

"We heard about the walk from a close family friend, Anne Moriarty, who had done it three years ago. We decided to join her last year and create our own team. We ended up raising $3,000 for Team Tony!" Bridget said.

She will be joined on the walk by 12 family and friends.

"The walk is tough but it felt so good to be doing something," Tucker said. "I do believe that we can make a difference."

Bridget is no stranger to fundraising for ALS, but the walk is the biggest event she has lead for her family.

Bridget's mother, Kim, whose maiden name is Haley, has worked with members of her family for 13 years to organize the Driving for Life Golf Tournament in support of ALS research.

The Tucker-side of the family's golf event "Golf4ALS" is going into its' seventh year.

"We've grown up doing the tournaments. Last year was time for me to go in another direction and do something a little different."

Ten percent of ALS cases are genetic, but there is no known cause for the other 90 percent of case, including Tony's.

Currently, there is no cure for ALS nor any treatment options for those living with it. Bridget feels that the ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI) is where they have the best chance of finding a cure, which is where all of the proceeds from the walk as well as the two family run golf tournaments.

"We feel that the ALS TDI is extremely dedicated to finding a cure and that they have very promising research being done," Bridget said.

Last year, when she asked people do donate to the walk, she was continuously surprised by their generosity.

"The money we raised last year made me realize how extremely generous people can be," she said. "I know times are tough but people were still digging into their pockets to help. It blew me away."

This year Tucker has a Web page on www.activegiving.com for the walk and has already raised $1,220 dollars for the walk. Bridget credits her success with the fact that she "doesn't mind being pushy for a good cause."

Three years ago, Bridget participated in Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling's "Pitch for ALS," for which she raised over $350 dollars for ALS research.