ALS Patient Inspires Others through Awareness and Fundraising Efforts

Dick Jacobson of Western Springs Spearheads Tag Days Donation Drive and Produces Video to Benefit Les Turner ALS Foundation

On May 2 and 3, volunteers wearing yellow aprons and holding collection canisters will be stationed in front of stores and at major intersections throughout Western Springs, LaGrange and Hinsdale as part of the Les Turner ALS Foundation’s Tag Days drives. Dick Jacobson of Western Springs is spearheading this local fundraiser in an effort to support a cause he knows all too well. Diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in September of 2011, Dick is dedicated to helping the Les Turner ALS Foundation fulfill its mission of raising funds to advance research, provide patients and caregivers with care and support services, and increase awareness and education of ALS. Dick’s Tag Days drive is one of nearly 30 community drives in the Chicagoland area. 

Dick is recruiting friends, relatives, and former colleagues from the Western Springs Fire Department and faculty members from School District 101 to serve as the manpower of this effort. Since 1994, thousands of volunteers have participated in Tag Days and more than $1.5 million has been raised through this grassroots effort. Tag Days requires only a few supplies and many dedicated volunteers, which enables the Les Turner ALS Foundation to invest a high percentage of proceeds directly into critical services that benefit the ALS community.

“The course of my disease is unpredictable, so we rely on the Foundation staff for guidance and services, such as support group meetings and in-home consultations,” said Dick. “With all they do for us, we feel it is important to give back, and Tag Days, as well as the new video, allows us to do that.”

A casual runner at the time of his diagnosis, Dick was concerned about a sore calf muscle and sought the opinion of a doctor. He underwent a series of tests, was referred to a neurologist and eventually was told he has ALS, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brainstem and spinal cord that control voluntary muscles.

The disease started in his feet, which impacted his ability to walk rather soon after the diagnosis. Today Dick relies on a wheelchair for mobility. He is still able to speak and eat, and remains active with his family, in the ALS community and as a volunteer with the Western Springs Fire Department. He is always thinking about creative ways he can help the Les Turner Foundation fulfill its mission of raising funds for research, patient services and education.

“The direction of my life has changed in a way I never would have imagined, and now that I have retired due to the illness, I try to remain positive and invest my time and energy into my family, including our first grandchild who was born on April XX,” said Dick. “I also find great satisfaction planning the Tag Days drive, advocating on behalf of the Les Turner Foundation and most recently creating a funny video, “Wheelchair Fire Engine,” which will be posted on YouTube shortly.” 

ALS Awareness Month  

May is National ALS Awareness Month, and to honor this milestone, the Les Turner ALS Foundation will oversee the Tag Days drives plus several new initiatives designed to educate the public about the disease. In partnership with ad agency Ogilvy, the Foundation has created a campaign that reinforces ALS is more common than you think. The campaign includes advertisements on CTA buses and in “L” stations; turning the Chicago skyline blue; radio PSAs and a social media contest. The public is encouraged to visit HelpCureALS.org for more information.

ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), better known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a terminal neuromuscular disease that attacks a person’s muscles, gradually robbing them of their ability to walk, speak, eat and breathe, yet usually keeping their mind intact. At any given time, approximately 35,000 people in the United States are living with ALS. While treatments and interventions can help alleviate some symptoms and prolong survival, there is currently no prevention or cure for ALS. 

Les Turner ALS Foundation

Since 1977, the Les Turner ALS Foundation has been a leader in research, patient care and education about Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), better known as Lou Gehrig's disease, and other motor neuron diseases (MND). The Foundation serves more than 90 percent of the ALS population in the Chicago area, providing a wide range of services, such as support group meetings and respite grants. The Foundation is affiliated with Northwestern Medicine where it supports two scientific research laboratories and a large multi-disciplinary clinical program.

For more information, to see a full list of Tag Days community drives and to volunteer for Tag Days, call 847-679-3311 or visit www.lesturnerals.org.