About Us
A MESSAGE FROM MIKE AND DAWN TIMLIN
“During the course of our mom’s illness, we learned that there is no effective treatment or cure for ALS. After watching her suffer through the awful progression of this fatal disease, we vowed to eradicate ALS so that others would never have to endure such an experience. Our mission is to raise public awareness regarding ALS and, more important, to finance critical research being conducted at the Cecil B. Day Laboratory for Neuromuscular Research at University of Massachusetts Medical School, under the direction of world renowned ALS expert Dr. Robert H. Brown. The Sharon Timlin Memorial Event a Race to Cure ALS is a major ALS fundraiser with over 3000 participants. More than $2 million has been raised toward research for a cure from this event. We believe that with proper funding, science will make a treatment, if not a cure, a reality sooner rather than later.”
– Mike and Dawn Timlin
ABOUT SHARON TIMLIN
Born in Abilene, Texas in 1941, Sharon Timlin was the loving and devoted mother of MLB Pitcher Mike Timlin of the 2004 & 2007 World Championship Boston Red Sox and his three sisters, Jeri Lynn, Tracy and Sherri, as well as the grandmother of nine. Diagnosed with ALS in May 2001, Sharon succumbed to the disease in March 2002. Her life of devotion, faith, love and generosity, and her courage in the face of ALS, has inspired her family to do what they can to raise awareness, contribute to research and provide solace to those facing ALS. Mike Timlin and his wife, Dawn, have pledged to do all they can to help the mission of the Angel Fund, an independent non-profit charity benefiting ALS research at the at University of Massachusetts Hospital.
OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM
We are a dedicated team, who strives to bring people each year to promote good will and raise critical funds for ALS research. If you have any questions/comments, please email us at run4als@gmail.com. Thank you for your support!
Abbie Rosenberg: Founder and CFO
Ann Hadley: Event Manager, Sponsorships & PR
Jennifer Blake: Volunteer Manager
Stephanie Whelan: 5K Manager
Bob Levenson: Course Manager and Permitting
Kristen Stoddard: Registration Coordinator
Dawn Timlin: Sponsorships & Kids' Color Run Co-Manager
Laura McKenzie: Kids' Color Run Co-Manager
Jon Schwartz: Field/Family Fun Day Manager
Andrea Wilk: Field/Family Fun Day Coordinator
Anna Lydon: Food Manager
Mike Pucci: Parking Manager
Pam LeBlanc: Raffle Manager
Maggie Morrissey: Raffle Coordinator
Elaine Alden: Raffle Coordinator
DEAR FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY
Thank you for joining us in our “race” to cure the devastating disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). We are passionate about finding a cure for ALS, with 100% of the funds raised from this event going to the Cecil B. Day Laboratory at UMass Chan Medical School, where worldwide groundbreaking research is being done daily.
Unfortunately, we know too well that ALS is an insidious and unfair disease. ALS is a progressive and eventually fatal illness with no known cure or effective treatment. ALS is particularly cruel because victims are aware of their fate as they gradually lose the ability to control their muscles, to communicate, and eventually to breathe.
In 2004, we held the first Sharon Timlin Memorial Event, a Race to Cure ALS. Thanks to our many generous contributors, the event was a huge success and we raised over $60,000 in that first year. Fast forward 19 years and collectively, we have raised over $2 million!
Sharon Timlin, mother of Mike Timlin, a retired pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, succumbed to ALS in 2002. This event was organized by an all volunteer team in her memory and to benefit all who suffer from this disease. In 2003, our dear friend and one of our organizers was also diagnosed with ALS, George Mazareas, providing even more urgency to our fundraising efforts.
The past few years have seen tremendous achievements in the fight to cure ALS and you can read about these updates from Dr. Robert Brown himself, here. However, ALS remains a significantly under-funded disease and the efforts of events like ours are essential. We look forward to the day when a cure is found for ALS and we no longer have to ask for support. In the meantime, we appreciate your support. Drop us a note and tell us what you think at run4als@gmail.com.
Our warmest wishes,
The Sharon Timlin Memorial Event Leadership Team
