RSS feedRemembering Yngve Ramstad
On Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2008, over 200 members of the URI community walked four laps around the Quadrangle in memory of Professor Yngve Ramstad.
Ramstad, who was URI’s former faculty athletics representative, was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease) in December 2006. He died on July 5, 2008. Ramstad was honored with the Brian Dickinson Courage Award as part of the ALS Association-Rhode Island Chapter’s 2008 Evening of Hope on June 12, 2008. In the fall of 2007, a committee comprised of student-athletes, administrators, staff, and faculty, formed Ramstad’s Rams. The group organized a charity Walk Around the Quad (part of the statewide Walk to D’Feet ALS) to honor the former chair of URI’s Economics Department, who watched the walkers from his wheelchair. The event raised more than $10,000 for ALS research.
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Hi,
My name is Karen Cahir and I am a student at URI. I just learned about the news of Prof. Ramstad. And because of that, I am sorry I missed the opportunity to take part of the ALS walk you had at the quad in 10/2008. It’s meaningful to friends/family when loved ones are remember. Unfortunately, my mother was diagnosed in May, 2008 with ALS and prior to that lost her job as an CNA (Certified Nursing Assist. My mother was an excellent CNA for over 23 years and loved by the residences. I am thankful that my mother is still with us and trying to live her life. What’s most bothering some is the fact that she will not be remembered the way she deserves. A mother who worked hard all her life to raise 4 children (alone most of the time). I know everyone has a story and loose loved ones every day. I could only imagine that it’s a terrible feeling and my heart and prays go out to the families. ALS Association is a great and supporting organization and is their for everyone who is affected by this terrible disease (regardless of your background). I commend the efforts the URI students put into the walk for Prof. Ramsted.
I too will be putting on a Walk to Defeat ALS (currently working on a date/logistics) in my home town, East Prov. as part of the state wide walk in my mother’s honor. While she is still with us, I want her to see the fight that friends, family, and everyday people do (as she once was able to) to show support, appreciation, and embrace hope that they (doctors/scientist) will find a cure, before or after her, and not give up until one has been found.
Once a date has been decided, would you mind announcing it in the Quad Angles and/or URI Event site to get others involved. Please let me know, I appreciate your feed back and time.
--Posted: April 30th, 2009 at 12:45 pmSincerely, Karen Cahir, URI Student
p.s. If you are aware of another ALS walk this year, please let me know (or I’ll keep checking the URI calendar). I’d like to participate, thank you.