Getting teed off over Lou Gehrig’s disease

Longtime Indy sports journalist Bob Kravitz gathers community for ALS benefit

By RICHIE HALL
sports@readthereporter.com

On Monday, local celebrities and golfers will head to Prairie View Golf Club for a benefit to help those affected by one of the scariest and most devastating diseases there is: ALS.

The 12^th annual 2024 Bob Kravitz ALS Golf Classic takes place Monday morning with registration at 9:30 a.m. The golf begins at 11 a.m. with a shotgun start.

ALS is formally known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and is commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease, named after the baseball legend whose career ended prematurely after he was diagnosed with it at age 36. ALS is a progressive motor neuron disease, which gradually robs people of their ability to walk, talk, swallow, and eventually breathe. There is no known cure for ALS.

The event is hosted by Kravitz, a longtime Indianapolis sports journalist who lost his mother Edith to the disease in 2017. It was organized not only in memory of Edith but in support of all those impacted by ALS, raising funds for Hoosiers and their families as they deal with the disease.

“This golf outing has been an instrumental event, especially in the Indy area,” said Jena McEwen, Director of Development for the ALS Association. “We have such a large ALS community there and such a tight-knit ALS community there. It helps bring attention to their journey and the struggles that they face.”

There are around 420 people in Indiana with ALS, with 100 of them having been recently diagnosed.

“It’s absolutely vital that events like this are happening and raising the critical funds to support people living with ALS and their families,” said McEwen.

The Kravitz Classic took place at Highland Golf Club last year but has been hosted by Prairie View in past years. The event annually raises over $70,000 for Hoosiers living with ALS, and that helps the ALS Association to provide equipment, support groups and other tangible and intangible aid for people living with ALS and their families.

“We’re really hyper-focused local because ALS is such a unique disease and it needs people on the ground,” said McEwen. “We have a care service team local to Indiana. We help fund the multidisciplinary clinics in Indiana.” Those clinics allow patients to see neurologists, social workers and other caregivers so they can have all their needs met at one time and not “have to find transportation for multiple appointments with multiple doctors and social workers,” said McEwen.

The local focus also helps patients to remain in their homes. McEwen said Indiana patients have an equipment loan closet, including an Obi, a robotic adaptive eating advice that allows patients to eat independently. Another important part is home modifications for people who need to reassess their home.

The ALS Association also gives support for the caregivers of people living with ALS. McEwen said the Association has a class called “Powerful Tools for Caregivers,” which is designed to educate and guide caregivers.

“When we say it takes a community, it really takes a community to help sometime,” said McEwen. That includes what is called a respite grant, which allows caregivers time for themselves.

“ALS is a full-time job,” said McEwen. She said the organization has found that ALS patients’ quality of life “is so much higher when they’re allowed to stay in their homes. A course like this, it really allows the caregiver to learn more about how to safely care for their loved ones. That’s really empowering at a time when you feel like so much is out of your control.”

The Kravitz Classic will be emceed by Scott Sander, anchor for WISH-TV’s Daybreak show. Also in attendance will be former Purdue University men’s basketball coach Gene Keady, Indiana Fever general manager Lin Dunn, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Bill Brooks, former Indiana University basketball player Phil Isenbarger, Indiana Pacers assistant coach Jenny Boucek, former professional hockey player Al Karlander, who played for the Indianapolis Racers team from 1975 to 1977.

In addition to golf, there will also be a silent auction at the event. Some of the items up for bid include a year-long membership to the Dormie Network of golf courses, two tickets to a Purdue football game, tickets to the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, an autographed Colts football and tickets to winery events.

For more information, click here to visit the Bob Kravitz ALS Golf Classic website.