On August 21, 2011, Doug McConnell of Barrington, Illinois, became the 48th person over age 50 to successfully swim across the English Channel. Congratulations, Doug! He swam these grueling miles in memory of his father, David, who passed away from ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). McConnell, 53, who is a recipient of the PRESTIGE® Cervical Disc system, developed by Medtronic, is using this endurance challenge to educate the public about ALS and raise funds for scientific research programs.
Nearly a month before his swim, Doug surpassed his initial goal of raising $50,000, money which was then matched as part of a challenge grant from Medtronic, for an incredible total of $100,000. Medtronic, which pioneered the field of neuromodulation with therapies including deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease and neurostimulation for chronic pain management, also conducts research that may further the understanding of other neurological disorders like ALS.
Gil Fern, an ALS patient himself, and his family were inspired by the dedication of Doug and the generosity of our donors. Through the Gilbert and Jacqueline R Fern Foundation, they offered to match up to $25,000 in additional donations, over and above the $100,000 already raised. Once again, our donors met and exceeded this challenge, and the result was over $156,000 raised for ALS research. Thank you!
On Sunday, October 30, at 2:00pm, you are invited to join us for A Long Swim Celebration. You are cordially invited to meet three newsmakers and VIPs in the world of ALS. In addition to Doug, featured guests are Dr. Teepu Siddique and Dr. P. Hande Ozdinler, both from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and lead researchers in the study of ALS. The program will be followed by Q and A and a social hour with refreshments. Families welcome.
We look forward to a wonderful afternoon celebration in honor of Doug's amazing journey and the new direction in ALS research. The event will be held at McHenry County College Conference Center, Building B, 8900 U.S. Highway 14 (14 and Lucas Road) in Crystal Lake. Entrance is free; however, seating is limited. You can RSVP by calling (847) 679-3311 or you can RSVP online. You can still make a donation in honor of A Long Swim.
Pictured: Doug (left) with Don Macdonald.
