Phillies' Cody Asche steps up to help family stricken by ALS

CODY ASCHE kept his word.

The newly minted outfielder - at the time, a third baseman - was the first player whom Jenny and Roger Kirk met when amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients were allowed to bring a family member to the clubhouse area at Citizens Bank Park for a meet-and-greet at last year's Phillies Phestival.

After meeting Asche with her father Roger, an ALS patient, Jenny sent Asche a message via social media and included a picture taken at last year's Phillies Phestival of her and her dad.

"He sent me a message back saying nice to meet you, if you guys need anything to let him know," Jenny Kirk said at yesterday's Phillies Phestival.

"He stuck to his word."

Roger was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gherig's disease, in May 2013. He succumbed to the incurable disease in February.

At last September's ALS Association of Philadelphia Golf Outing, hosted by former Phillie Greg Gross, the name was officially changed to "The Roger Kirk Golf Outing, hosted by Greg Gross."

Jenny reached out to Asche, who came through with signed memorabilia for the outing's silent auction.

She then let Asche know when her father died, and he offered his condolences back.

Asche spoke in November at the banquet for the ALS Association, Greater Philadelphia Chapter, and wanted to figure out a way to help out in any way he could. He thought about a T-shirt design to benefit ALS and then got cold feet.

But with the help of his wife, Angie, and many others, the Asches designed and launched a shirt with the words "Together we Fight" on the front, along with a Phillies logo. The shirt sells for $24.99 at the Majestic Clubhouse Store and at phillies.com. Proceeds benefit ALS.

"It just kept coming back to me," Asche said yesterday while wearing the shirt. "After I spoke at the banquet in November for the ALS Association of Philadelphia, I kind of had an idea - coming back on the plane - kind of thinking how I could help.

"I was scared to do it," Asche said. "And then it kind of came back to me. I was, like, let's go for it. I went to the Phillies and asked them, and they were beyond excited to help me with it. This isn't just myself. There's a lot of hard work that went into this, with people in the front office and within the organization."

Asche said there were a few reasons why he ended up going through with designing the T-shirt, and said a big reason was the Kirk family. Roger left behind his wife, Maryanne and five children, including Jenny.

"They weren't dealt a fair hand," Asche said. "And I think that's kind of what hit home with me is kind of just thinking about how I would react in that sort of situation, had it been my father. I give them a lot of credit for how strong they are and how they've used it to help others. It's really inspiring."

The Kirks have played a big part in raising money for ALS since Roger's diagnosis.

The Phillies have certainly done their part, too. Since 1984, the organization has raised over $16 million for the local chapter of ALS Association, including $786,146 last night.

Asche and Phillies catcher Cameron Rupp were among the faces of the Phestival yesterday. The autograph and auction party allowed fans and ALS patients alike to meet Phillies players and interact with them in ways they normally can't.

"Stuff like this is what makes the Phillies the Phillies, and what makes them one of the top class organizations in all of sports," Asche said.

Rupp has a personal connection to the disease, as well. His grandfather lost his life to ALS when Rupp was only three months old.

"Being able to do something, it's very special," Rupp said. "It's got a special place in my heart just like he does. Anything I can do to help anybody with it and be there for them . . . I don't necessarily know what it's like, but I know the repercussions of what happens and what people feel.

"It shows that we're not just baseball players. We support a lot of charities. A lot of guys have their own foundations and things like that. It shows how much we support everybody and not what just goes on [on the field]. Everything outside, the illnesses people have, the disabilities, whatever it may be. We support it. We want everybody to be able to have the same opportunities we do."

Chapter president Ellyn Phillips said money raised at things such as the Phillies Phestival, as well as last year's viral ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, go toward research, patient care, clinics, support groups and technology.

Even while thunderstorms roared through the ballpark while the event was going on, thousands of fans walked around the concourse to help strike out ALS.

The Kirks said it was helpful to be at the event, so soon after Roger's death.

"I think it's awesome," Jenny said. "It helps us. We've met a lot of nice people through the ALS Association and the relationship with the Phillies, Cody being a prime example."

"It's just reassuring and comforting to know that [the players] are taking it upon themselves to raise awareness for a horrible disease."