Two Competitors - One Common Cause by Ray Shay

Two Competitors - One Common Cause

By Ray Shay

8.26.14

Artie Ojeda and Carlo Cecchetto

  

Last Saturday morning in front of Karl Strauss Brewery in 4S Ranch, something unusual and yet very special occurred. Local news anchors, Artie Ojeda from NBC 39 and Carlo Cecchetto from CBS 8 stood alongside each other after completing the Ice Bucket Challenge.   

They were both soaked to the bone with ice cold water and yes, those were real suits they were wearing.  It does not show, but Carlo also was wearing lime green flip flops and Artie being the experienced news anchor as well, was wearing worn denim shorts instead of matching slacks.  The really cool thing is they both came together to support a common cause, the fight against ALS.  

 

Artie and Carlo both spoke in lighthearted terms with each other and  several dozen people in attendance.  They encouraged everyone to support ALS and to attend the upcoming 5K, 10K, Kid's Run to be held Thanksgiving morning in 4S Ranch.  

   

All the money raised goes to benefit ALS victims and the 4S Ranch/Del Sur Foundation.
Click here for Thank You Run details.

 

What Artie and Carlo did not tell anyone is they have both personally witnessed the

devastating affects of Lou Gehrig's Disease and have sought support for ALS victims for many years.  Long before ALS became more well known or anyone heard of the, Ice Bucket Challenge.  

A special moment for me was when the news celebrities were speaking,  I saw our ten year old son Ryan rest his left hand on Theresa's shoulder and lean into her.

I immediately wondered if Ryan remembered that about six years years ago, not long ago after his grandma "Helen" died from ALS that he was riding on Carlo Cecchetto's shoulders.  I'll never forget that Carlo was wearing one of the bright blue Helen's Closet T-shirts as they both participated in the Carlsbad Half Marathon.  

Jennifer, Carlo and Ray

The year was 2010 and It was a beautiful day along the shimmering Southern California coast.  At that time the loss of Helen was fresh in all of our minds.  It had only been a few months earlier when Helen quietly passed while encircled by family members in a special bedroom built by her son in law, Mark Schaefer (her favorite) in the small town of Denville, New Jersey.
  
To honor Helen and find a way to pay it forward, Theresa came up with the name Helen's Angels. Our good friends showed up and joined us on that crisp and cold January morning. We had no idea it was the precursor for our First Annual Thank You Run later in the year.

At the time,  Carlo was not the marathon runner he is today.  Ryan being only about five years old. was a bit winded. I saw Carlo reach down and pull him up to his shoulders for the final mile. That action is what giving back, supporting others and looking for ways to help is all about.

Diana, Yolanda, Randy, Jeanne, Theresa and Ryan

 
Thank you Artie, Carlo and all our amazing friends, and the Karl Strauss employees who showed up on Saturday morning.  None of you had to be there,  were paid to be there, but there you were regardless, reaching out to help victims of ALS.

That is pretty amazing stuff. A moment in time that Theresa and I will always treasure.  Thanks for being there and thanks to all the people who support and help with the Thank You Run.

It is one amazing race that pays it forward to so many people that could never imagine running up Challenge Hill!

  

 Have a great week,

  

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