ALS awareness and support continue to grow in Cincinnati
In conjunction with MLB’s annual Lou Gehrig Day, the Cincinnati Reds invited those battling Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and their loved ones to Great American Ball Park on Tuesday to raise awareness of ALS and honor individuals affected by the disease.
As people gathered to watch the Reds vs. the Royals, the Reds community also came to show their support to those who have ALS and those who have passed away from the disease, including more than 1,000 fans from various ALS organizations.
The Reds partnered with three local ALS charities in 2024 as part of the ALS Triple Play Initiative. Always Lifting Spirit, Chair Force 1 Foundation and Operation Ramp It Up were all invited to the ballpark for the team’s third consecutive Lou Gehrig Day game.
The Reds ALS Triple Play Initiative, along with help from the Que4Care fundraiser, raised money from May 26 to June 2 through community events at Smoke Justis restaurant in Covington, Ky., and at Great American Ball Park. These efforts helped generate funds for the charities to buy wheelchair-accessible vans and mobility equipment, install custom wheelchair ramps and help improve the quality of life for those living with ALS.
Richard Dickmann, the founder of Smoke Justis and the Que4Care initiative, hosted all three charities and sponsored events at his restaurant throughout the weeklong fundraiser to help support local ALS patients and their families.
After losing close friends to ALS and seeing the effect the disease had on their families, Dickmann wanted to do something to help support those in the ALS community. And what better place to come up with the Que4Care idea than at a Reds game.
Dickmann recalls being at the ballpark for Lou Gehrig Day in 2024, when he first learned about Always Lifting Spirits. And, of course, being part of the restaurant business, Dickmann thought of lifting spirits like lifting a glass of bourbon.
That’s when the idea solidified into his fundraiser, which helps the ALS Triple Play Initiative drum up support around the things he knows best: barbecue, bourbon and baseball.
“[The Triple Play Initiative charities] have huge hearts, all three organizations,” Dickmann said. “I’m just their assistant. I’m there to help them when they need help. And my goal was to make sure that people knew about their organizations and make sure that people living with ALS knew about them so they could get what they needed.”
Before Tuesday night’s game, Dickmann and a group of more than 300 people walked across the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge, carrying signs in honor of their loved ones who have been affected by ALS.
“I call it an honor walk, because not only is it for those living with ALS now, but also those who have passed away,” Dickmann said. “My hope is that we create a way for people whose loved ones have passed to, once a year, remember them with a community.”
Dickmann has helped raise more than $100,000 for the ALS Triple Play Initiative but says he can’t put a number on the awareness that these events bring to the Cincinnati community.
In addition to ALS Triple Play, several other organizations participated in the big night at the ballpark. One of those was ALS United Ohio, which provides comprehensive support and advocacy for people with ALS and their families while advancing research for new treatments and an end to ALS. The group hosted more than 300 patients and caregivers in the Handlebar presented by Braxton Brewing Company, providing them the opportunity to enjoy the game from one of the ballpark’s premier hospitality locations.
Hop on a Cure also joined the Reds at Great American Ball Park for Lou Gehrig Day. John Driskell “Hop” Hopkins, a founding member of the Zac Brown Band, was diagnosed with ALS in late 2021. Soon after, Hopkins and his wife founded Hop on a Cure, a foundation dedicated to raising awareness of ALS and supporting research to find a cure.
Coming back to the ballpark for his third Lou Gehrig Day in Cincinnati, Hopkins performed a private concert for ALS patients and their families in the Fan Zone before the game.
Hopkins sang and played the guitar as he cracked jokes and answered questions from the audience between songs. When asked how to be a support system for a loved one who is battling ALS, Hopkins replied to simply just be there for them in their times of hardship.
Hopkins spoke about the struggles of normal activities but credited his wife with caring for him and making the biggest impact on his life.
“I’m grateful for all the caregivers out there that are putting in time to give us lives that are meaningful.”
As a part of the many pregame ceremonies centered on ALS awareness, Hopkins performed the national anthem. And in the middle of the fifth inning, fans all around the ballpark honored loved ones affected by ALS with a moment of support during which they all waved special flags.
Since 2021, MLB has recognized Lou Gehrig Day on June 2, the date that Gehrig became the Yankees’ starting first baseman in 1925 and the date he passed away from ALS in 1941.
This day honors Gehrig’s legacy and the lives of those who have or have passed away from ALS. It also raises awareness about the disease, helps fund ALS research and commemorates people who pursue finding a cure. As a part of this year’s leaguewide efforts, MLB launched a special charity auction on June 2 featuring 30 specially designed Lou Gehrig Day bats signed by one player from each Major League team, including one signed by the Reds’ Eugenio Suárez. Fans can bid on these bats through June 11 at 8 p.m. All proceeds will go to the Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS to support their mission in the fight against ALS.
For information about ALS, Cincinnati Reds ALS Triple Play Initiative and how you can give back to the ALS community, click the links below.
Always Lifting Spirits Foundation