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Eight-year-old Little Leaguer hits homerun for ALS

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Contributed by: Annabel Lew on 8/5/2008

Dillon Plageman, 8, of Sherman Oaks, became an enthusiastic little league star on and off the field this year. After his spring season wound down, he was invited to play on a tournament team this summer.

Between weekends of intense tournament games, Dillon read biographies about legends in baseball history like Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. Dillon realized he had a deeper connection to Lou Gehrig's story other than just baseball.

Dillon's uncle, Scott Lew, 39, of Van Nuys, has suffered from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease, for six years. Dillon does not remember his uncle walking but there are family photos of Scott playing board games or sword fighting with his young nephew.

Scott's home office also has a display case with fantastic, kooky collectible wind up toys, scorpions in resin and treasures from trips around the world.

Every visit to his uncle's house includes a once over of the collection to check for new additions. Dillon has created a similar shelf in his bedroom, telling his parents he wants to build a trove like Scott's.

Dillon asked his grandmother why Lou Gehrig's disease was named after Lou Gehrig. His grandmother talked about how the baseball legend became the one of the most famous Americans at the time to suffer from this very rare illness once called "infantile paralysis." "I think they should call it Scott's disease," Dillon told his grandmother.

Today, the illness is more familiarly known as Lou Gehrig's or ALS. It is a rapidly progressive, invariably fatal neurological disease that attacks the nerve cells (neurons) responsible for controlling voluntary muscles.

In the later stages of the illness, patients often become completely paralyzed. Scott is now a quadriplegic and uses a non-invasive ventilator to breath.

Inevitably, Dillon asked his grandmother about the cure for ALS. She handled it with aplomb. She explained while there is no cure, there is a lot more technology to help ALS patients live longer while scientists work on a finding cure.

Dillon felt inspired to raise money to help find a cure for his uncle and other ALS patients. He had a lemonade stand and raised $81.

Dillon's team, the Sherman Oaks Sluggers, participated in the fourth annual CytRx Strike Out Lou Gehrig's Disease All Star Invitational Baseball Tournament in Thousand Oaks on July 17-20.

During the four-day tournament, Natural Balance Pet Foods made a donation for every homerun hit and strike out pitched. In addition, players from each team could raise money by participating in the tournament's Easton Hit-a-thon.

Dillon collected over $6,000 and was the hit-a-thon's top individual fundraiser.

For his efforts, Dillon and his Slugger teammates won tickets and a private luxury suite box to Sunday's Dodger's game against the Arizona Diamond Backs.

Before the game, Dillon was introduced on the field along with CytRx's and the ALS Association representatives as part of the title sponsor's check presentation.

His uncle Scott was in attendance in the Slugger's Suite. It was a very emotional moment when Dillon appeared on the Jumbo Tron tipping his hat when the announcers introduced him and his fund raising achievement.

Dillon became a very special baseball star to all of his family and friends.

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Showing 1 of 1 comments

Submitted By: Jackie Houchin

posted on 8/14/2008 @ 9:47:46 AM

Rated Story

What an inspiring story! I think young Dillon is heading for a lot more homeruns in a lot of areas. Good luck, slugger! Keep helping people the way your are. It sure is appreciated!

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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Annabel Lew

Van Nuys , CA

Annabel Lew has posted 1 story and 0 comments since joining on 8/3/2008. Annabel Lew 's average story rating is 5.

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