PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Philadelphia Phillies are recognizing Lou Gehrig Day Friday by continuing their longtime effort to fight ALS.
Since 1984, the Phillies have raised nearly $20 million to fight amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a degenerative nerve disease that slowly robs the brain’s ability to communicate with muscles.
“Once you’re diagnosed with a disease like ALS, it changes everything,” said Christine Moretti, a Somerton resident who was diagnosed with the disease in 2016.
“You’re given a prognosis of two to five years from the time you’re diagnosed, and I’ve sadly lost friends.”
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“It is a fatal, devastating and terrifying disease to go through,” she said.
Moretti, 66, describes herself as one of the lucky ones, because her disease has been slow to progress.
But she lives with daily fatigue and pain, and the knowledge that there is no treatment and no cure.
“Every little thing that changes, you automatically go to ‘Oh, is the disease progressing?’”
Moretti has been a Phillies fan since she moved from Harrisburg to Philly in 1983. She said she’s beyond grateful the team has adopted ALS as its official charity.
“To just feel that kind of devotion to a cause is really almost indescribable,” Moretti said.
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“It’s an overwhelming experience to know how much commitment there is in the Phillies organization, from the top management all the way down to the volunteers. I’m telling you – it’s a moving experience that they care that deeply.”
The Phillies are wearing a special patch Friday to honor Major League Baseball’s first Lou Gehrig Day.
The team is selling grab bags of autographed memorabilia all weekend to raise money for the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the ALS Association.
Moretti said ALS is a debilitating disease, but the one thing it can’t take from her is her spirit.
“ALS can’t take your hope away. We can still hope,” she said. “We can still hope.”