A year ago, the Staples boys soccer team mourned the death of Jon Walker.
Jon Walker (l) and Kurt Dasbach, Staples High School assistant coach and a former over-30 teammate of Walker’s. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Armelle Daniels photo
The 1988 graduate — and FCIAC-championship winning goal scorer — died at age 47, of complications from ALS. The previous season, while battling the devastating disease, he became a popular presence on the Wrecker bench.
This fall, the team embarked on a fundraiser. They solicited pledges, based on the number of goals the team scored throughout the season.
The campaign raised $4,216. The funds have been contributed to two ALS research organizations. One is the ALS Therapy Development Institute. That is the recipient of the current Hot Pepper Challenge.
The Wreckers made their donation to Patty Haberstroh’s page.
She is the Westport Department of Human Services program specialist whose sons were Staples basketball players — like Walker — and whose father is chair of Westport’s Parks & Recreation Commission, which oversees the town’s athletic fields.
“Jon was an important and cherished member of the Staples soccer family,” head coach Dan Woog said.
“ALS is a crushing disease, and now Patty is fighting it. We’re honored to do our small part to help fund research to find a cure.”
