by Jerry Meyer

After Hillary Phipps and Scott Carlson were staggered by the diagnosis that he had Lou Gehrig's disease she did the only sensible thing. She eloped with the man she loves. As they approach their second anniversary next month, Scott's strength is ebbing, but they continue committing all their energy to a better future for other victims of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

That's why Hillary's mother Joyce Phipps, an East Greenwich Rotarian, has convinced the other members of her club to sponsor a 5K walk/run at Goddard Park on May 5. All the money from the $15 fee for adults and $10 fee for children will go to the Rhode Island ALS Chapter. Donations are welcome too. A sanctioned run, it is a qualifier for other events of interest to serious runners. Registration starts at 8:30 am at the beach house with the race scheduled for 10:00 am. The Rotary sponsored Interact student group at East Greenwich High School will help the club with manpower.

Hillary, who attended Our Lady of Mercy and St. Mary Academy-Bay View also graduated from Boston University and the East/West College of Healing Arts. Right now she works a couple of days a week at John Balletto's Center for Muscular Therapy, but her real job is Scott's caregiver.

She and Scott know what the future holds. ALS causes the nerve cells of the brain and spinal cord to atrophy and they and the patient die. His body will waste, but his mind will remain strong. That's why he and Hillary say they are lucky the Internet exists. Scott can keep his brain engaged while he explores the world from their home in the Old Buttonwoods area of Warwick.  Before ALS sneaked into his body Scott competed in triathlons, surfed, skied, was a talented musician and tackled complex engineering problems on the job at BBN in Boston. He and Hillary met while he was competing in a triathlon at Quonset Point. She was helping as a lifeguard.

Scott has turned his life into an example for young people in how to face adversity, speaking to students in Warwick. Last April he spoke to a group of high school sophomores at a Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership seminar in Exeter, describing how his training as a triathlete helped him face challenges and work through problems. He had no idea the training would have such an impact in helping him face what is still ahead. He told the students it is difficult to realize how what they are currently learning may apply to life in the future. Scott and Hillary would like to make several more appearances before youth groups this spring.

In an interview with the Boston Globe last spring Carlson said that while he still has a voice he has a desire to reach out. "You should be more conscious of your life," he says, "and realize what you have instead of what you don't have."

Scott and Hillary know there won't be any breakthroughs to help Scott, but they want to push the time­table for others as far ahead as they can.