The Event: Chicago’s Cultural Center provided the backdrop for the IronHorse Ball of the ALS Association Greater Chicago Chapter on Feb. 23. Some 350 attendees came to lend support and honor those suffering by raising critical funds against this incurable disease.
Steve Gleason, former professional NFL safety, received the Grid IronHorse Award. Ann Saunders of Barrington received the IronHorse Caregiver Award. Parker Beam was presented with the distinguished Spirit Award. Daniel Alan Trout received the courage award and Andrew Wasilewski the IronHorse Award.
Cause célebre: “The services that we provide are unlike any other disease-based non-profit,” said Maryilene Blondell of Lake Forest, director of development. “Every 90 minutes one person is diagnosed with ALS and one person loses their battle with it. So there is an urgency with what we’re doing.”
ALS Association Greater Chicago Chapter partners with six institutions throughout the Chicago area and Rockford for patients to see physicians. Additionally, the organization leverages its federal funding and private donations to provide in-home visits, equipment, transportation, respite care and grant programs all free of charge.
“We provide literally every single solitary thing that (patients) need and…we never charge anything for any of our services,” said Blondell.
Evening honorees were: Ann Saunders of Barrington, the IronHorse Caregiver Award; Parker Beam, the distinguished Spirit Award; Daniel Alan Trout, the courage award and Andrew Wasilewski, the IronHorse Award
Evening honoree, Steve Gleason, former NFL safety currently battling ALS, was awarded the Grid IronHorse Award. Fellow player and former Chicago Bear, Stephen Douglas “Steve” McMichael, accepted on Gleason’s behalf.
“These are who heroes are in this world,” said McMichael, speaking to Gleason’s spokesmanship for ALS. “He goes outside of his problems and does something to help other people that are afflicted with the same thing, that’s a hero.”
Advocacy and public policy chairman, Toby Kucharski of Des Plaines was in Washington D.C., earlier that day to advocate for federal funding for ALS research.
“Any veteran is at a 2-1 greater risk. Nobody knows why,” said Kucharski explaining that federal aid averages approximately $6.5 million a year. “The ask I made today was for $10 million (and) they understand that something needs to get done.”
Bottom line: The IronHorse Ball raised nearly $250,000 for the mission of the ALS Association Greater Chicago Chapter. See webchicago.alsa.org