On Lou Gehrig Day, 40-year-old Naperville resident Marc Davidson will take the field at the Rate to deliver the game ball for the Chicago White Sox. For Marc, who was diagnosed with ALS this past December, the moment is about much more than baseball; it is about visibility and the community that supports those living with the disease.
For Marc, baseball was one of the defining forces of his childhood. From family road trips to see Chicago teams play in Minneapolis and Denver to walking the outfield at the old Comiskey Park during a Boy Scout Day, the atmosphere of the ballpark has always held a sense of wonder.
“It’s the only time I’d ever been on a professional field,” Marc recalls of his childhood visit. Now, he returns to that same professional stage with his father traveling from Florida to witness the moment.
Since his diagnosis, Marc has faced the “scary” and rapid progression of ALS. He is candid about the “existential side” of the disease and the loss of independence, noting that “it’s so much more than just having your muscles taken away.” Despite the challenges, he maintains a profound sense of gratitude for his support system—from his partners and friends to his colleagues at a local university. At the Foundation, Support Services Coordinator Michelle Shaker is also a key source of ongoing guidance.
“I can still do a lot of things that other people can’t do,” Marc says. “I have a lot more perspective and gratitude. If I had anything to impart to someone else, it would be to do the things you like with the people you love, and nothing else matters.”
This will be Marc’s first Lou Gehrig Day since his diagnosis, and he is looking forward to an environment where the challenges of ALS are understood and accommodated. “I’m looking forward to going to an event where ALS isn’t going to cause hindrances,” he explains. “The community being out there means a great deal.”
Marc also hopes the event highlights the need for patience and understanding in a world that can sometimes be unkind to those with physical disabilities. By stepping onto the pitcher’s mound, Marc is helping the Les Turner ALS Foundation bring awareness to this disease and continue the fight toward a cure.
