OVER $20,000 RAISED

The DAWN TO DUSK RELAY, held on June 15, 2008 in Austin, Texas, at the Dell JCAA was held in honor Navy Veteran, Kurt Goeser, who is afflicted with Lou Gehrig's Disease, and helped celebrate the lives of the many ALS sufferers, their families, and caretakers.

This Father's Day event helped to raise public awareness for ALS, as well as raising funds for ALS research.  

Also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, this disease harms a person's neuromuscular system and causes degeneration throughout the brain and spinal cord.  According to the ALS Association of Texas, the incidence of ALS is approximately five times higher than Huntington's disease and about equal to multiple sclerosis.  A surprisingly high number of those afflicted with the disease are veterans and of those a great percentage served in the Navy.

While TeamTexas Masters swimmers, Austin Team Pirhanas (both swim teams housed at the "J") and many friends & family were tagging off on a swimming relay which spanned the entire day, others were enjoying the music of the New Austin Polka Band, snacking on food donated by Mama Fu's and Jim-Jim's WaterIce, participating in family games, or socializing under the poolside trees.

The morning event began at 6:30a with an on-deck television interview of Tracy Schach, sister of Redsox pitcher Mike Timlin.  In 2007 Schach walked 2000 miles from Austin to Boston in order to raise awareness after her mother was taken by the disease.  Event organizer, Olympic Triple Gold Medalist, Sandy Neilson-Bell, and International Aquatic Fitness & Therapy Specialist, Terri Mitchell, later shared the spotlight with Goeser to encourage others to support the fundraising efforts to help scientists researching advanced cell-based therapies for neuromuscular patients.

Just over $20,000 was raised, doubling the initial goal for the event.  At least $10,000 will directly benefit ALS research. An additional $8,000 was donated to form the basis for a college scholarship fund set up to benefit the Goeser's two young children, Tessa & Daniel. And, at least $1500 of the funds raised will directly benefit the Jewish Family Services Fund.

For more information on the event or to donate, please contact Dawn to Dusk Relay Event Directors:

Sandy Neilson-Bell, TeamTexas Masters Coach, 512-327-1280 or
Lacey White, JCAA Aquatic Director, 512-735-8000

We thank each of you for your support !

Kurt on News 8 Austin (All Day)

Swimming for Dad

Kurt & Naval Acadamy classmate, Adam Paterson

Kurt with wife, Brenda, and mom