Daily struggle

• By ELLYN COUVILLION
• Advocate staff writer
• Published: Oct 7, 2009 - Page: 1D

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In Greg and Dawn Pitkin’s wood frame house near City Park, it’s quiet and peaceful. A beautiful, silver-gray cat curled up on a chair sleeps near her owners.

But a fierce struggle takes place daily in the Pitkin home, against the disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Greg Pitkin was diagnosed a little more than four years ago at the age of 30.

ALS is a fatal, progressive neuromuscular disease for which there is currently no cure, according to the local ALS Association.

Since the disease affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, patients in the later stages of ALS may become totally paralyzed.

Looking back on the early days of Greg’s diagnosis, Dawn says, “It was a very difficult time, but we got through it by leaning on each other and (being) with family and friends — and came out on the other side.”

Every year, people across the country participate in “Walk to Defeat ALS,” the signature fundraising event of the national ALS Association, to raise funds for research and patient services in the struggle against the disease.

Dawn and Greg will participate in the local event this year, as they have the last several years, with their team called “Pitkin’s Parade.”

Coordinated by the ALS Association Louisiana-Mississippi Chapter, it will be held Saturday, Oct. 17, at the  LSU School of Veterinary Medicine.

Greg, a native of upstate New York, embraced Louisiana and Baton Rouge culture wholeheartedly when he came here to work at Georgia-Pacific Port Hudson Operations in Zachary, Dawn said.

The couple are great fans of the St. Patrick’s Day parade that rolls in front of their house each year — so the name for their walk team came pretty easily, she said.

Last year, their team had about 80 participants, she said.

“It’s a wonderful reminder to us that we do have so many friends and family members,” Dawn said.