Hermosans paddle through Greek Island to support ALS research
By Kevin Cody
by Kevin Cody
Over the past 20 years, Hermosa Beach resident, and South Bay Boardriders president Tom Horton has raised over $200,000 for the ALS Network, which supports ALS victims, and funds ALS research. He has raised the funds through pledges he receives for participating in long distance paddleboard races.
He chose to support the ALS Network because of the support it gave his mother, Anastasia “Peacha” Horton, a Greek immigrant and popular, third grade teacher in Hermosa schools for 25 years. She passed away from ALS, commonly known as Lou Gerhig’s disease, in 2005.
The paddleboard races Horton has participated in to secure pledges include the 32 mile Catalina Classic, The 15 mile South Bay Paddle, the 22 mile Rock2Rock, and the 32 mile Molokai2Oahu race.
This month, Monday, October 5 through Monday October 12, Horton will participate in a 95 mile “Paddle to cure ALS” through the Greek islands, of Agistri to Poros (15 nautical miles), to Hydra (15 nautical miles) to Spetses (15 nautical miles), to Ermioni (10 nautical miles) and back to Poros (20 nautical miles), and to Agina (20 nautical miles).
DJ Wilson and Kurt Fry are among the South Bay Paddlers joining the Paddle to Cure ALS through the Greek Islands. Easy Reader file photo
About two dozen fellow South Bay Paddlers, including his wife Darci, and kids Cole and Shayna, will paddle with him. The other paddlers include DJ Wilson, Kurt Fry, Eric Cedeno, Jerry Conway, Grace Emig Schall, Adam and Mariana Carelton, and Dave Wicke.
Costs associated with the trip are being underwritten by an anonymous Greek man who lost a family member to ALS. Paddle proceeds will be divided between the ALS Network and the Hellenic ALS Association, founded by Aspa Karaepela, who lost her husband to ALS.
“ALS takes a devastating toll on the ability to speak, swallow, walk, and breathe. Life expectancy averages 2 to 5 years,” Horton said. “It is very difficult to watch people you care about live with this disease. “Mental acuity stays intact and patients say it is like being trapped inside a body that is failing you. Although there are a few FDA approved treatments, none are meaningfully effective at slowing, reversing, or curing the disease,” Horton said.
Pledges in any amount may be made at PaddlingToCureALS.org. ER
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