COLUSA, CA (MPG) – Families across Colusa County, including the Armstrong, Peters, Sanders, Vann and Jewitt families, share a devastating connection with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as ALS, a reality highlighted during the Colusa Rotary Club’s meeting earlier this month at Rocco’s Bar & Grill.
Andi Armstrong spoke about the disease and the families it has touched. She is the wife of the late Jim Armstrong, a Williams firefighter who died of ALS in 2022. Rotary invited her to share how the disease continues to affect local families and why ongoing support for research and patient services remains critical.
“Every 90 minutes, someone is diagnosed with ALS, and every 90 minutes, somebody dies from it,” Armstrong said.
She said some families in the Williams area have lost a brother and sister, followed by members of the next generation, pointing to the need for continued funding and progress in treatment.
ALS, often called Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurological condition with no known way to stop its advance. Most cases are sporadic, though some are inherited, and diagnosis typically comes between ages 40 and 65.
“With ALS you lose your muscles, your speech and eventually the ability to breathe on your own,” Armstrong said.
Jim Armstrong was diagnosed at age 65 and died less than two years later. As the disease progressed, he lost mobility and his ability to speak, ultimately succumbing to respiratory failure.
Since his death, his wife of 34 years has continued organizing the annual Jim Armstrong Memorial Golf Tournament to raise money for ALS research and patient support.
Known as the “Swinging for a Cure” tournament, the event is scheduled for April 10 with a 10 a.m. shotgun start at Arbuckle Golf Club.
Armstrong said the tournament has raised more than $68,000 over the past three years, supporting programs at UC San Francisco and UC Davis, along with the ALS Association and Team Gleason. The nine‑hole course fills with about 20 teams each year, and she is seeking sponsors and raffle donations to support the event.
The tournament has become a community fixture, drawing steady support from golfers, sponsors and families affected by the disease.
For information, contact Andi Armstrong at 530‑682‑1614.