26 Feb 2010, Posted by John Merizalde in Articles,Film Reviews, 0 Comments

The Runner – An ALS Story

The Runner, an ALS Story, begins with the story of a devastating diagnosis. Jack Parker has ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), or as it’s better known, Lou Gehrig’s Disease, a terminal illness. Over the next few years he will become increasingly paralyzed until he can no longer draw a breath. We hear from top Georgia physicians and advocates about the cruel nature of this disease and from Jack’s family members as they try to cope.

It doesn’t take long for Jack to make a life-altering decision: He will make the most of every day he has left and will use his illness as a way to help others who are similarly afflicted. He becomes a source of hope, love, inspiration and information to numerous other ALS patients. In addition, Jack, at great peril to his own health, travels to Washington, DC to lobby Georgia congressmen and senators in order to convince them to co-sponsor a bill to create an ALS registry, so that scientists can finally begin to track and better understand this mysterious illness. As the film progresses, so does the disease and as it takes its toll on Jack, we see how he adapts to his ever-changing situation.

While often poignant and deeply moving, The Runner, an ALS Story is ultimately a hopeful film exploring the big questions and speaks to all of us about how we should live out our short lives.

Produced, filmed and edited by Mark Coughlin.

Please visit the ALS Association website to donate.