EG's Unsung Heroes of 2011: Judy Pratt

The dentist who fights ALS

   

ALS isn’t something that comes up during office visits, but dentist Judy Pratt has made helping people with the disease a big part of her life.

As chair of the Scott Carlson Memorial Road Race committee of the East Greenwich Rotary Club for the last six years, Pratt has boosted that event into the biggest single contributor to the Rhode Island ALS Association.  

Last April's race saw the biggest turnout to date, and generated more than  $50,000 for ALS-RI. 

That's what prompted reader Jodi Gladstone to nominate Pratt as one of EG's 2011 Unsung Heroes.

"Very quietly and without publicity for herself, she works all year long to spearhead the ALS road race at Goddard Park in April," Gladstone wrote in an email. "She is tireless!"

EG Rotary President Mike Gemma echoed those comments.

"Judy Pratt is a tireless warrior raising funds for ALS. Judy is one of a kind," he said. "Judy is just loved everywhere!"

Pratt and her committee take a short break after the race, but then get back to work on what has to be done for the next year's race. The committee even meets during the holidays so they can stay on schedule for another successful event.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, is a disease of the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement. ALS is also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

Pratt, a partner in McManus and Pratt at 4512 Post Rd., has been involved in the 12-year-old race since the second year. The connection began when she and her family moved in next door to Scott Carlson, who had just been diagnosed with ALS. 

Scott understood what the final outcome would be for him, but was determined he would live what time was left to him to the fullest. An athletic young man, he was a runner, and to help other ALS victims he created the race that now bears his name. He was only able to attend the race a few times as his body withered; he died in 2003 at age 39.

As neighbors, Dr. Pratt and her family got to know Scott well. They became part of a care group of family and friends who surrounded him with help and support as the disease progressed. Then-4-year-old Samia Pratt became fast friends with Scott. They spent hours together watching movies.

Pratt says that only those directly involved with someone who has ALS really know how bad it is. Unlike other diseases where there can be hope, ALS is always fatal.

Because of Pratt's connection to the race and her dedication to helping raise money, ALS-RI invited her to be a member of their board of directors, where she has served now for four years.

That connection put her in touch with more ALS victims and some of their families, including some who became patients. She says she has met some amazing people and as she watches the struggle she really wants to help.  “There’s always a new story,” she says, “and it’s always compelling.” 

Many families become involved in the fight to help ALS victims, but Pratt says that usually doesn’t happen until later. “It’s too overwhelming when it’s going on,” she says. “And some families just step away when it’s over because the fight takes too much out of them.”

Pratt’s husband Jon has been her key assistant in making the race happen each year, and they work on details year around. With two grade school children, the demands on their time are growing and they are working to expand the leadership circle.

Pratt is finding help from a new Rotary Club member Seth Wilson, director of sales and marketing for SeaScape Lawn Care. He lost his mother to ALS, which Pratt says has given him the drive to become her right hand for next year’s race.

Sometimes Pratt does think about stepping back, but she knows how vital the money is to the state association. “It’s a huge part of their budget now,” she says, “they depend on it.”

Information on the race can be found at teamals.org

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Originally Posted at: http://eastgreenwich.patch.com/articles/unsung-heros-dr-judy-pratt