I support the ALS Network because it’s working hard to find a cure to this horrible disease. My sister, Margy (Maggie) Butterworth, was diagnosed with ALS around 2003, at about age 50. She quickly went from an active, vivacious woman to a wheelchair-bound person – though her zest for life was still strong. Around 2005 I joined a group of people in the Santa Barbara/San Luis Obispo, CA, area with similar connections to the disease, who were working on fundraising ideas for what was then the ALS Association – and happened to all be avid cyclists. What we came up with was a 100 mile bike ride event that would include teams of a rider and his/her supporters (each team representing a person with ALS) with the teams competing for fundraising prizes. We named the event the Central Coast Century, and our team was called Team Maggie B.
I sent out letters to all my family members telling them about the event – and of course asking for donations. The response was amazing. Not only did I receive donations from almost everyone I contacted, but a total of 30 family members, many clear from the San Diego area, came to the event itself – and Team Maggie B. received the trophy for 1st place, Team Fundraising.
Margy Butterworth passed away in 2008.
Riding to Defeat ALS
