By Mary Malloy
She is in training for a marathon that she wishes she didn't have to run. Jayne is raising money for ALS, a progressive and debilitating disease. She will be participating in the Cape Cod Marathon on October 28 in memory of her father, Wally, who died of ALS over 14 years ago.
Paskoff, a mother of three and an active member of the Marion Street and Lynbrook South PTA's, as well as the First Church in Baldwin, says that running is in her blood. "Dad started running at the 'Y', and took to the outdoors soon after," she said. " In part, it was Dad's running that made him aware that something wasn't right with him in his early 60's." Despite his training and speed workouts, Paskoff said, he was slowing down and not feeling strong. "His ALS progressed and quickly robbed him of one of his greatest joys."
Paskoff's sister and three brothers are all participating in the run. "My father has left an incredible running legacy," she said.
Paskoff thinks of her father every time she goes out for a run. When she was in her 30s, she said she had "this weak, crazy moment" and blurted out that she would run a marathon in his memory when she was 40. "Well, I am now 41 and have to put my running shoes where my mouth is, while hoping that [people] will put their money where my running shoes are."
Paskoff, with her husband, Rob, often on bicycle by her side, said she has been training like crazy for The Cape Cod Marathon, set for October 28. "I hope that my small contribution will help make a difference," she said. "I know that Dad will be there by my side."
Her family - including her three children Jeremy, Rose and Walter, are very supportive of her training and her goals.
On 'Wings of Hope'
Now called "MDA's Wings Over Wall Street(r)," this event began as the vision of a newly diagnosed ALS patient in late 2000. Toni Diamond, a United Airlines flight attendant, and the sister-in-law of East Rockaway resident Larry Schiffer, was diagnosed with ALS in September 2000. Rather than give up hope and live out her remaining life in utter despair, she decided to live and fight the disease that was soon to take away all of her freedom. Hoping to help in some small way, she told her caregiver-husband, Warren Schiffer, also a United Airlines flight attendant, that she wanted to find a way to raise funds for ALS research to help find treatments and a cure.
Warren then began searching for an organization to help bring Toni's vision to reality and wanted a partner that would allow them to direct the funds raised to the to the ALS researchers at the Eleanor & Lou Gehrig MDA/ALS Center at Columbia University, where Toni was diagnosed, and to The Robert Packard Center for ALS Research at Johns Hopkins, where Toni and Warren heard about the latest research to find a cure.
Toni and Warren found their partner in the New York City District Office of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Considering Toni's vocation as a flight attendant and her love of angels, the core organizing group came up with the name "Wings of Hope."
Toni and Warren reached out to their longtime friend, Scott Horak, a partner in R&J Construction, to co-chair Wings of Hope along with Warren's brother, Larry Schiffer, a partner in the international law firm of LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae, L.L.P. Scott, Larry, and William began to organize an Event Committee made up of friends, family members, and United Airlines employees.
Larry Schiffer has been integral to the annual Wings fundraiser. "When my brother asked me to help get Wings off the ground in early 2001, when Toni was suddenly forced at age 42 to choose between dying or going on a ventilator to breathe," he said, "I immediately took up the challenge. With my brother caring for Toni 24/7 for the next four-plus years, we were able, with the help of the Wall Street community, the legal community, and the insurance and reinsurance communities to exceed Toni's expectations for a modest research fundraiser, and have so far put over $7 million in the hands of the ALS researchers in seven years. Larry is married to Gail Schiffer for nearly 30 years. They have two daughters and a son-in-law, Jessica and Richard Lerner, and Jamie Schiffer.
As Toni's condition deteriorated, the event committee expanded and Wings of Hope grew from a modest fundraising event to the largest ALS event ever conducted in New York City by the MDA. Toni's spirit and her will to live drove the committee members to extraordinary efforts.
Wings of Hope was held on November 8, 2001 and over 800 people attended, including a number of ALS patients, ALS caregivers, doctors, and those who contributed generously to the MDA to fund ALS research. Toni was flown down to New York from Cape Cod by air ambulance and she and Warren came onto the stage as Toni was presented with the first Spirit Award for her courage and her vision in founding Wings of Hope.
In 2002, Wings of Hope became MDA's Wings Over Wall Street(r), and Mike Beier became the chair of the event. Over 1,700 guests packed the Broadway Ballroom and over $1.9 million in net proceeds was raised.
2003 was a very difficult year for Wings. Just as the planning was starting to gain momentum, chairperson Michael Beier lost his battle to ALS. Nevertheless, it was held on October 2, and over 1200 guests attended and over $1 million was raised. This brought Wings' 3-year total to over $3.5 million to fund ALS research.
Warren Schiffer, who had his cell phone connected to a speakerphone at home so Toni could listen to the award presentation. The organization lost founder Toni Diamond in November 2004.
This year, Larry Schiffer received the Muscular Dystrophy Association's Humanitarian Award for his dedication to the Wings Over Wall Street benefit committee. "It is in Toni's memory that I accepted the Wings Humanitarian Award," he said. "We promised Toni that we would not let the voice of her heart be silenced by ALS and we plan to keep that promise. Together, we will find a cure for ALS."
Excepts courtesy MDA's Wings Over Wall Street(r). Comments about this story? MMalloy@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 202.
