Pam's Pals Racing Team

 

For those members who are new to Momentum and may be wondering exactly who Pam is and why there are so many fundraising efforts, events and even a racing team dedicated to her, here is a brief history...

 

Pamela Maurer Ruhland is the daughter of Joe Maurer and sister of Leighann Moll, Momentum’s club owners. As a family business, Pam, too, had a part-time role as a Membership “Motivational” Rep calling and writing those members who could be making better use of the club as well as working at the Member Services’ front desk to greet and serve incoming members.

 

In early 2003, she began to struggle not only in her one of her favorite classes, BodyPump, but also in the simple task of answering the phone at Member Services’ as she was finding it difficult to raise her arms past her shoulder line and was feeling extremely weak overall. After much pinching, poking prodding and several tumbles to the floor due to her weakness, in June of 2003, she was officially diagnosed with ALS (otherwise known as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease).

 

While over half of the patients with ALS only live 2-5 years from their diagnosis, Pam was determined to live as long as she could as she had a son, James, who was 5 at the time. As many of the members got to know her and heard the saddening news, Pam would dictate to her sister her thoughts and responses from the influx of supportive cards. Updates were posted regularly in the locker room.

 

In December of that same year while completely reliant on a wheelchair, she opted to go on a ventilator for it was her only option if she wanted to live. One year after her diagnosis, Pam was left with only what her son named “thumb power” as she used a computer with the assistance of her strongest muscle— her thumb to type her thoughts and communicate with her family. Before the end of 2004, Pam was unable to maintain her thumb function and resorted to a partial smile to signal “yes” when asked questions. Many times even her eyelids were not strong enough to blink or remain open for extended periods of time.

 

The Pace 4 Pam & Pals run was first held in 2005 after her diagnosis in 2004 under the organization of Momentum staff person, Lisa Peterson, and lots of assistance from fellow Momentum staff. This race is an annual event held in April at Creekview Park in Hampden Township sponsored by Momentum Fitness Center.

 

It was in reading the postings in the locker room of 2005 that a member named Julie Gillespie found the inspiration to set a goal for herself that would change so many others’ lives as well. Since Julie was the same age as Pam and also had a child almost the same age as Pam’s son, she felt a very deep connection to her. Julie had the opportunity to meet Pam, and upon learning more about her, saw so many similarities they shared within their lives. Julie asked Lisa Peterson, a Momentum instructor and seasoned triathlete, to provide her some direction in training for a triathlon, and Julie would recruit fellow members like her – with no experience in running let alone biking or swimming—to create a triathlon team in honor of Pam. Julie thought it would not only help to raise money for ALS but it would help women like herself do something they would have never even fathomed for the mere reason they had the ability to move… unlike Pam.

 

Julie created a theme for the team: “tri”ing because we can”. After a very short window of training, the first “Pam’s Pals Racing Team” consisted of 17 women all completing the race. As Julie has always said, “it’s crossing the starting line, not the finish line that matters the most. It’s not winning but rather trying that truly matters.”

 

From what began with 17 women, the 2009 Pam’s Pals Racing Team was made up of 45 Momentum females, and that team raised over $12,000 for The ALS Association just in 2009. Over the years, the team has been able to generate well over $50,000 for the fight against ALS. And while Pamela lost her battle to ALS in April of 2006 at the young age of 33-- only days before the annual "Pace 4 Pam & Pals walk/run" event-- her fight continues to "celebrate movement, and celebrate life" through the efforts of the Pam's Pals Racing team.

 

If you are interested in donating to the Pam’s Pals Racing Team, checks can be made to: The ALS Association with “Pam’s Pals Racing Team” in the memo line. If you are interested in learning about becoming a Pam’s Pals Racing Team athlete in 2011, contact Lisa Peterson and put in the comment section “2011 Team”.