Hilton man learns to cope with ALS
A walk to benefit those afflicted with the disease to be held on September 12

Douglas Lemcke, 38, is coming to grips with his own mortality. He has trouble with some daily efforts most of us take for granted. Most days he needs help eating, shaving or even brushing his teeth. He is hopeful, but is also bracing his family for the inevitable.

"I've learned to accept things I can't change," the Hilton man said. "But I feel more alive than I was before I was sick."

In January, Lemcke was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) a progressive and neurodegenerative disease. The disease progresses quickly and there is no cure. The disease, also referred to as Lou Gehrig's, strikes the body's nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord, thus affecting voluntary muscle control like arm, hand and leg movement. "I was horrified to learn that there was very little doctors could do for me," Lemcke said. "There's no concrete evidence to why this develops, but I'm fighting it with everything I have."

On September 12, Lemcke and his family are participating in a local walk to benefit those afflicted with ALS. The walk begins at 10 a.m. at St. John Fisher College in Rochester. The goal is two fold; to raise funds and raise awareness of the crippling disease. Donna Mott-Lange, spokeswoman ALS Association of Upstate New York, said there are 300 new cases of ALS in New York state annually. She said she expects more than 200 people to take part in the event.

"Doug is a true hero," she said. "He has an incredible attitude which seems to help people with ALS. After speaking with him, he lifted my spirits."

Lemcke and his wife Jeanne, and two sons, Ian, 8 and Daniel, 10, live each day trying to keep their heads held high and hopes up. "When you're living with it, you can't question it," Lemcke said. "You have to do it for the kids." Jeanne credits a strong connection with friends, family and their church, St. Leo's, of which they are members, with helping her family endure. "Doug stumbles but he always gets up," she said. "You can't look too far ahead; you have to take it day by day."

Lemcke, a 1984 graduate of Hilton High School, is a wrestling enthusiast, and in 2000, co-founded Hilton Youth Wrestling. He remains active in the club but in a limited capacity.

Although he remains optimistic, now he wrestles a whole different opponent: time. "It's like a tug of war with your heart and it's very hard to accept," he said. "Nobody knows what the future holds. Live every day like it was your last."

To find out more about the walk or to help out those with ALS, call the Lemcke family at 392-6733 or the ALS Association at 1-866-499-7257. Registration for the September 12 Walk to D'Feet ALS begins at 9 a.m. at St. John Fisher College. The route is wheelchair and stroller accessible. The walk goes rain or shine.