MI K E MYER S IS
CROSS COUNTR Y FOR A CURE
Just one month into his new job at McDonald Electrical Corporation, IBEW Local 103 member Mike Myers was moved to embark on a journey for a cause much larger than himself. After learning that a fellow co-worker, Leo Cooney, had been diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as “Lou Gehrig’s disease”) Myers decided to put his love for cycling to good use and prepared to embark on a cross-country bike ride to raise awareness and research funding, in honor of Leo. Mike crushed his goal of raising $103,000 for ALS ONE! ALS ONE is a partnership of world-leading ALS researchers, clinicians, and care providers from MGH, UMass Medical, ALS TDI, and CCALS who have united to expedite therapeutic treatments and an ultimate cure for the disease, while providing support and equipment to individuals currently living with ALS.
Since his diagnosis in September 2017, Leo Cooney has defied the odds, outliving his initial prognosis by over three years. In addition to being a skilled electrician and dedicated IBEW Local 103 member, Cooney is a football fanatic known for his contagious sense of humor, loyalty to his loved ones, and his magnetism. Mike’s desire to make a difference illustrates the nature of what makes IBEW Local 103 so strong, and we are proud to have him on our team. Myers finished his ride in late August, and his IBEW Local 103 brothers and sisters were thrilled to welcome him home at a union hall gathering.
On Wednesday, June 16, Myers embarked upon his bike journey in Astoria, Oregon. He finished his ride in his longtime hometown of Marshfield, Massachusetts, after biking a total of nearly 4,000 miles through 14 states. On average, Myers cycled 60-75 mph per day, spending about 8-12 hours on his bike. Upon completion of his trip, Mike has officially now biked through 45 of the 50 U.S. states. 103
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