Second Annual Golf Tournament to Benefit Lou Gehrig's Disease Sufferers Rodrigo Lopez Becerril - Vallarta Opina
go to original April 4, 2013

Attendees at the Press Conference were Enrique Gomez, Juan Antonio Gutierrez, Alejandra Lemus and Irma Cervantes. (Photo Source: Fernando Gonzalez)

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, begins by hindering the mobility of a limb and advances steadily through the body. It's a mysterious disease of unknown origin which is progressive, requires expensive treatments and that, so far, in incurable.

A couple of years ago, Captain Alejandra Lemus, Ex-Director of Operations of the Flamingos Golf Club, was diagnosed with ALS. Her friends organized a fundraiser golf tournament in her honor last year on May 26 at Flamingos. It was such a great success that there will be the Second Annual ALS Golf Tournament.

The format for the 2013 ALS Golf Tournament on Saturday, May 25, will be Foursome A Go Go with the shotgun tee-off at 9:00 am, again taking place at Flamingos Golf Club.

The donation entry fee is 1,500 pesos per person or 5,400 pesos per foursome.

Juan Antonio Gutiérrez del Toro, President of the Organizing Committee of the ELA Tournament, reported that the main objective is to support Captain Alejandra Lemus in the costs of her treatments and to also educate the players, sponsors and public about ALS.

"We seek to support the rehabilitation of people with this strange disorder, which, fortunately, is supported by the DIF System of Puerto Vallarta and Banderas Bay, as well as the non-profit Unidos al Galope organization," states Gutiérrez del Toro.

He added that this is more than a golf tournament, but also an avenue to create awareness of the disease, "instituting a responsible gathering around the tournament with information about the disease and with the main purpose of helping and giving financial support and encouragement to Captain Alejandra Lemus."

During the tournament, there will be informative medical presentations about ALS and a fundraising art auction.

Dr. Jorge Luis García, explained that Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also called Lou Gehrig's Disease, is a degenerative neuromuscular disease that occurs when cells of the nervous system called motor neuron gradually decrease its performance and die, causing progressive muscular paralysis of fatal prognosis.

"In its advanced stages, patients suffer a paralysis that is accompanied by an exaltation of tendon reflexes, resulting from loss of inhibitory muscle controls. It is a very rare disease that affects one of every 2 million people in the world."

We thank the 92 players that participated in the first tournament last year and the 73 funding sponsors, 45 employees and 4 participating physicians, which resulted in a donation total of 257,958 pesos, of which 127,958 pesos were cash and 130,000 pesos in medicines.

For more information or registration, contact Juan Antonio Gutierrez del Toro by email at direccionbebidasvallarta@hotmail.com, or by telephone at (322) 209-2043 or cellular at 044-322-289-7807.

To direct deposit your donations into HSBC Bank, the Account (Cuenta) is 4050339407, the Code (Clabe) is 021375040523390741, the Beneficiary (Beneficiario) is Unidos al Galope A.C., and the Reference (Referencia) is Torneo ELA.

This is more than a golf tournament, it is a support event to raise awareness of ALS and create a better quality of life for those that suffer from this disease and to give encouragement and support to Capt. Alejandra Lemus, Ex-Director of Operations of the Flamingos Golf Club.

The Flamingos Golf Course is conveniently located in the Puerto Vallarta - Punta Mita Corrador, only 5 minutes from Nuevo Vallarta and Bucerias, Nayarit.

Translated and edited by Team Angels

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