Carl Johnson Memorial 5k Raises $440 for ALS Research

Pinkham Notch, NH—Thirty racers and friends of Carl Johnson helped raise $440 for ALS research at the Carl Johnson Memorial 5k at Great Glen Trails.

The cloudy skies couldn’t dampen the spirits of the 30 skiers who joined Great Glen Trails on Saturday afternoon in celebrating the life of man who loved skiing. Carl Johnson passed away in 2006 after a battle with ALS, and this race was organized in his honor. Because Carl loved loud racing tights and was a timing volunteer for many events at Great Glen Trails prizes were awarded for wearing the loudest tights and guessing your race time, along with the traditional award for the fastest times. The winners in each category won large cookies—another of Carl’s favorites. The race also featured an ALS benefit raffle for a handcrafted, wooden vessel made by Great Glen Trails Ambassador Ed Good.

Awards:
1st Place Male Skate: Walt Sheppard, 19:37
1st Place Male Classic: Dan Doherty, 27:27
1st Place Female Skate: Sally Swenson, 28:11
1st Place Female Classic: Robin Kosstrin, 45:42
1st Place Junior: Sean Doherty, 22:20
Mystery Time Guess: Christine Fleming (off by 11 secs.)
Loudest Tights: Ed Good

Click here for results.
Click here for photos.

About ALS:
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their death. When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, patients in the later stages of the disease may become totally paralyzed. Yet, through it all, for the vast majority of people, their minds remain unaffected. There are currently no treatments that fully reverse the affects of ALS nor is there a cure.

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