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Golfers Tee It Up for the Fight Against ALS

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ALS Texas Board Member and CBS Austin Sports Director Bob Ballou (right) hosts 4th Annual Under Ballou Skies Golf Classic.

Golf, sports, and fighting ALS. The 4th Annual Under Ballou Skies Golf Classic is a unique combination of these three things. This year’s event raised $70,000 for ALS research and patient care programs, with more than 130 golfers participating.

This one-of-a-kind event incorporates several sports-themed contests throughout a round of golf at the Twin Creeks Country Club in Cedar Park, Texas. Golfers shot hoops with Hoops Austin, pitched with the Round Rock Express, and played a little golf pong.

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Austin Family Grateful for Outstanding Support on Their ALS Journey

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By Jackie Barry

Jackie Barry lives with her husband Tom in Austin, Texas. She was diagnosed with ALS in 2016 and has been involved with the ALS Association since then. Read her story below.

In early 2015, I began having a speech problem, like a lisp, which seemed to get a little worse when I was stressed or tired. We were in the midst of getting home repairs done, so I thought it would just go away if I ignored it.

In August that year, I saw the doctor about it, and he suspected it could be a stroke or a brain tumor, among other things. I had an MRI, MRA and a carotid sonogram done, which all came back normal. Shortly after that, I was referred to a neurologist, who sent me for a swallow test, after which he believed it was a neuromuscular problem. He then referred me to Dr. Carlayne Jackson at UT Health in San Antonio. Dr. Jackson diagnosed me with ALS in February 2016.

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First Recipient of Harrison Brown Volunteer of the Year Award Honored at the Austin Walk

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Whitney Sadler is the first recipient of the Harrison Brown Volunteer of the Year award.

We had the privilege of awarding the first Harrison Brown Volunteer of the Year award to Whitney Sadler at the 2017 Austin Walk to Defeat ALS.

The award honors the late Harrison Brown who lost his life in the stabbing at the University of Texas in May 2017.

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Golfers Participate in Sports-Themed Tournament Under “Ballou” Skies

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In April, golf enthusiasts gathered for an afternoon round in support of the fight against ALS. More than 130 golfers participated in the 3rd Annual Under Ballou Skies Golf Classic followed by a dinner reception and silent auction.

The golf classic began in 2015 after an ALS Texas board meeting in which members were asked what they enjoyed doing that could become a fundraiser. Board member Bob Ballou thought to himself that he enjoyed golf and that he likes to get his friends together to play. Thus, the tournament began. When Bob saw that no income was budgeted for the first tournament in 2015, and he threw down a dollar and said “Look, we’ve already beat the budget!” He was determined to start the tournament off right, raising significant funds for the fight against ALS. That year, the tournament raised $15,000.

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