First Posted: 8/19/2014
Florence Duffy, 72, of Pittston lost her husband of 45 years, Jimmy, to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) back in 2009 after a two-year battle with the disease. He was 67 years old.
Duffy recalls what she and her late husband went through during those two years.
“From the day he was diagnosed, I knew what the end result was going to be so it was difficult just going through every day knowing what was ahead of us,” said Duffy. “I think Jimmy knew, also. He was very brave, never questioned why, never complained; he was always smiling.”
After Jimmy Duffy’s passing, Florence’s sister Mary Hanczyc, 67, of Pittston, decided to begin a fundraiser in Jimmy’s memory while raising money for ALS awareness.
It will take place in the backyard of Alan Hanczyc, son of Mary, in Hughestown. Cost to attend is $20 per person, but free for children under 12.
“It started up at PNC Field in Scranton,” said Hanczyc. “Costs were getting too much, so we decided to have it in my son’s backyard. We’ve been going for three years in their back yard and we chance off baskets and other prizes. Donations we get that day will all go towards ALS research.”
ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body.
The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to death. When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, patients in later stages of the disease may become totally paralyzed.
ALS was first discovered in 1869 by French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot, but it wasn’t until 1939 that Lou Gehrig brought national and international attention to the disease. Ending the career of one of the most beloved baseball players of all time, the disease is still most closely associated with his name.
ALS awareness has spread like rapid fire this summer thanks to the social media craze known as the Ice Bucket Challenge. The Ice Bucket Challenge involves dumping a bucket of ice water over a person’s head. The soaked victim then gets to nominate others to perform the challenge, and they must do the deed within 24 hours. In one version of the challenge, all participants donate money towards ALS research, but those who are nominated and do not take the plunge must pony up more dough.
The challenge was started by a golfer named Chris Kennedy in Sarasosta, Fla., who was originally nominated by a friend with the stipulation that Kennedy had to donate to any charity he wished. When Kennedy did his video, he nominated people to donate specifically to ALS research, as he had a relative suffering from the disease. From there, the Ice Bucket Challenge began to specifically raise money for ALS research.
Both Duffy and Hanczyc are aware of the challenge and they could not be any happier with the results it has brought.
Duffy even recalls doing it herself.
“I went over to video my son, his wife and two sons because they were challenged,” said Duffy. “Then my 11-year-old grandson nominated me and I just did it that night. It took me all night to warm up. It was one of those chillier nights last week. They have a deck on their bedroom and, oh my gosh, when that ice hit… But, it was for (Jimmy), so I really didn’t mind.”
According to the ALS Association’s official website, the amount of money raised by donations through the challenge has reached $41.8 million as of Thursday, Aug. 21, nearly doubling within three days.
“I think the awareness is awesome,” said Hanczyc. “I think it’s a good thing it started. It’s the way the kids this generation are communicating, but something like this brings all my family together. My nieces and nephew in their 20s and 30s, it makes them more aware this way. That’s the way people are communicating today, through Facebook. I don’t think they would go do the research on it themselves. This way it’s the social media and instantaneously they are aware, and the fondness towards my brother-in-law, it makes you feel so good.”
Duffy is hankful that ALS is finally being recognized and hopes people are following through with their donations.
“It’s wonderful people are bringing awareness to it,” said Duffy. “I hope the people do come through with all the donations they’re saying they are going to donate. It’s time we find a cure for this disease, so nobody has to die from it. ”
