A degenerative disease may have stolen Harold Johnson's voice, but not his joy of life.
Johnson learned he had ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, in November 2007. Since then, he's gone skydiving and driven a race car at 180 mph. He works out at the gym, plays golf, and cheers on the Greensboro Grasshoppers and his beloved Georgia Bulldogs.
He regularly attends Summit Rotary Club meetings, communicating by note pad, and is planning the club's second golf tournament, which he started last year while president.
He also will take part in Greensboro's ALS walk for the second year on Saturday.
"I'm 67 and have had a big time. There are people that are 30 and get it," Johnson said Thursday through a computer-generated voice. He switches to a female voice -- "That's Ursula," he said -- when he wants to have a little fun.
ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is better known as Lou Gehrig's disease after the Yankees' Hall of Fame player who died from it. The disease has no cure and typically ends in death within two to five years. It attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, weakening muscles and affecting motor control.
Friends said Johnson has remained upbeat and active since the diagnosis.
"He's not giving in to it," said Michael Hull, the Summit Rotary Club's president. "He's still reaching out to his friends and members in the Rotary Club."
ALS strikes about 5,600 people annually. Men are 11/2 times more likely to get ALS. But women and people of all races can contract it.
The ALS Association has raised money for years through its annual walks nationwide.
Last year, North Carolina raised more than $700,000 -- about $9,000 from Johnson's team.
They're called "Squeak's Squad" for Johnson's school nickname. He got the moniker when his voice changed.
The group had raised more than $4,600 by Thursday with a $1,700 donation from the Summit Rotary Club yet to come.
More than 50 members are expected to walk for "Squeak."
Mike Sigmon, who has known Johnson for years, called him a "real trouper."
"It's been a real eye-opener for me to see the impact it's had on him," Sigmon said. "But more importantly, the way he's handled it."
Johnson said that as the disease runs its course, he'll keep doing what he wants to do. Or as he puts it: "Going wide open while I can."
Contact Jennifer Fernandez at 373-7064 or jennifer.fernandez@news-record.com To see more of the News & Record or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.news-record.com. Copyright (c) 2009, News & Record, Greensboro, N.C. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
Copyright (C) 2009, News & Record, Greensboro, N.C.