Phillie adds muscle to fighting deadly, degenerative disease

Golfers are invited to take a swing at eliminating ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, at the Applecross Country Club in Downingtown on Monday, Aug. 15.

The event, hosted by Phillies hitting coach and 1980 World Champion Greg Gross, will raise funds for research and community-based patient services for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a progressive motor neuron disease that causes patients to lose control of all voluntary muscles.

"This golf outing is a great way for us to interact with fans, but more importantly, a way for us to lead the way on ending ALS.  I hope golfers of all abilities will come and enjoy the day with us for this worthy cause," said Greg Gross.

Registration starts at 10;30 with a shotgun start at noon. The event will also include hors d'oeuvres, a live and a silent auction, featuring items such as a Derek Jeter-signed baseball bat. The country club, which features the only Jack Nicklaus-approved golf course in the region, is located at 170 Zynn Rd., Downingtown.

ALS was first described in 1869 by French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot, but it wasn't until 1939 that Lou Gehrig brought international attention to the disease when he abruptly retired from baseball after being diagnosed with ALS.  Most commonly, the disease strikes people between the ages of 40 and 70, and as many as 30,000 Americans have the disease at any given time.  ALS has cut short the lives of Hall of Fame pitcher Jim "Catfish" Hunter, U.S. Senator Jacob Javits, actors Michael Zaslow and David Niven, and jazz musician Charles Mingus.

For more information on the event as well as the ALS Association, which is committing to treating and curing the disease, visit the ALS Association Greater Philadelphia Chapter website at www.alsphiladelphia.org. The cost is $250 per golfer or $900 for a foursome.