March 11, 2009 (Pinkham Notch, NH)- On Saturday, March 14, Great Glen Trails will host the Carl Johnson Memorial 5k. All proceeds from this freestyle cross country ski race will benefit the ALS Foundation. In 2006, Great Glen Trails and the Mt. Washington Valley ski community lost Carl Johnson after a battle with ALS. Carl was a lover of all things skiing, and this race is held annually in his honor. Also, in Carl’s fun-loving spirit, the race features a mystery time contest, a prize for the loudest tights and cookies for awards.

The $8 race entry goes entirely to the ALS Association. The race will also feature an ALS benefit raffle for a handcrafted, wooden vessel made by Great Glen Trails Ambassador Ed Good. In its first two years, the race has raised more than $800 for ALS research.

Race format is freestyle. Registration will be held the day of the race starting at noon at Great Glen Trails. For more information, visit www.GreatGlenTrails.com or call 603.466.2333.

About ALS
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their death. When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, patients in the later stages of the disease may become totally paralyzed. Yet, through it all, for the vast majority of people, their minds remain unaffected. There are currently no treatments that fully reverse the affects of ALS nor is there a cure.

Located at the base of Mt. Washington, Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center is a year-round destination for outdoor and fitness enthusiasts. Winter offerings include cross country skiing, snowshoeing, tubing and the one-of-a-kind SnowCoach. Mountain biking, paddling, Nordic walking and trail running are popular in summer. For more information, visit www.GreatGlenTrails.com or call 603-466-2333.