Holliston Resident Supporting ALS Research During Marathon Run

Pat Montain, a Holliston resident and former competitve rower, is running the 2013 Boston Marathon to support her friend and fellow teammate.

Montain rowed with Carolyn Hoener Gondran of Austin, TX in the 80's but since the Gondran has been diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Pat and Carolyn competed in several regattas together through the Austin Rowing Club (ARC), including the 1989 Masters Nationals where they competed in a four and eight, finishing third in both races.

ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that leads to paralysis and eventually death. There is no known cure for the disease or an effective treatment. The average patient survives only 2-5 years following their diagnosis.

Gondran was diagnosed with ALS in September 2011, one month after successfully finishing in second place twice at the 2011 Master’s Nationals. Although it has been over two decades since the friends have rowed together in an ARC boat, their rowing ties and friendship remain.

Desperate to help Gondran and others battling ALS, Montain has chosen to raise money for theALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI), a Cambridge, MA-based nonprofit biotech dedicated to developing treatments and a cure for ALS. Pat’s goal is to raise $7,500 for research at ALS TDI.

For more information about Pat’s 2013 Boston Marathon run and to donate, please visit http://community.als.net/runforcarolyn.