Doug’s Story

Doug Oakley’s the guy at the party that everyone wants to know. To meet Doug for the first time, you will find an outgoing, charismatic, 47-year old guy with a quick wit. He may be dressed in a suit, just coming from his professional life as a mortgage broker, or possibly peeling off his running shoes coming back from training for the Falmouth Road Race with Patty, his wife of 20 years. If he’s with his extended friends and family, Doug is probably in the kitchen, sharing his recipes and knowledge as a professionally-trained chef. It may even be in a hockey rink as he’s grooming one of his nephews to be the next Bobby Orr.

Until this past season, you would have likely found Doug unlacing his skates after his third ‘beer league’ game of the week. Unfortunately hockey isn’t possible for Doug anymore. He hung up his skates at the end of May 2010 after realizing he no longer had the strength to withstand a check.

In December 2008, Doug received the devastating diagnosis that explained why he was having trouble holding his hockey stick. He was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s Disease, or ALS – a tough call for an active, adventurous guy with a lust for life.

In simple terms, Lou Gehrig’s Disease or ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) is very cruel. The body dies from the outside in, as the mind remains fully engaged. As the nerves die, the muscles atrophy starting in the extremities, most often beginning in the arms. From diagnosis, most people live one to five years. The disease strikes both men and women, with diagnosis starting in the early 20’s, but more often in middle-age.

It is not uncommon to put off our adventures and dreams until a better time. For Doug, it is uncertain how the disease will progress, so he has decided to live life as fully as possible given his mobility and ability at every moment. He has dedicated many of his extraordinary efforts to raising awareness of ALS, and to helping organizations that support patients and family living with ALS. Since being diagnosed, Doug has receive support from Compassionate Care ALS and to help pay it forward, has chosen to support the organization through his charity fundraisers including C2C4ALS.

Doug lives in Weymouth, Massachusetts and Falmouth, Cape Cod, but also has strong connections to Canada, as his dad is from Cranbrook, British Columbia and his mom, originally from St. George, New Brunswick.