PLATTSBURGH — By ASHLEIGH LIVINGSTON

In 2009, Roger Long learned he was one of two in every 100,000 who are diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis each year.

As a result, Joshua Jabaut of Plattsburgh has agreed to do something only about 20,000 people do each year.

On April 16, Joshua, 28, will run the world-famous Boston Marathon in an effort to raise money for ALS research.

Roger's condition, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, causes the progressive degeneration of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, resulting in loss of muscle control and movement, and it often brings total paralysis.

"There are very few treatment options, there's no cure, and it's a fatal diagnosis," Joshua said.

Research of the disease has been limited due to a lack of funding, something Roger; his wife, Darlene; and their daughter, Alison Rosenbaum; were frustrated to learn.

But rather than wallowing in frustration, the Peru family got to work creating the ALS Raising Hope Foundation, devoted to securing money for researching the causes of the disease and potential treatments.

"I want to be part of what's going to fix this thing," Roger, 61, who now uses a wheelchair, said in an interview at his home.

MANY LOCAL CASES

While Lou Gehrig's disease is relatively rare compared to many others, it seems to be more common in the North Country than in other parts of the United States.

"It's a lot more prevalent in the North Country than people would understand," Roger said.

Since his diagnosis, Darlene has done a lot of research of her own and has found there have been close to 50 reported cases of ALS in the region since 2000.

Other studies, Roger said, indicate that individuals who have served in the military — even those who have never been deployed overseas — are twice as likely to contract ALS. And individuals who live near a body of water of any kind are two and a half times more likely to get the disease.

The reasons for these findings are unclear, but Roger hopes research will provide answers, which will, in turn, lead to solutions.

PASSIONS COMBINED

Over the past two years, the family's foundation has raised roughly $150,000 for ALS research, and Joshua, a longtime close friend of Alison's, hopes to increase that figure by $7,500.

Joshua began running in eighth grade and hasn't stopped since, running competitively at both the high-school and college levels.

So when Roger and his family learned that 12 Boston Marathon bibs were being reserved for individuals wishing to run the race to raise money for the ALS Champion Fund at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, they turned to Joshua for a 26.2-mile favor.

"I was so super excited," he said. "I've always said someday I would love to run the Boston Marathon."

An occupational therapist, he sees the challenge as a way to combine his passion for running with his passion for helping others.

Though this will be his first marathon, he is no stranger to long distances, at times having run 80 to 90 miles a week in college.

Since December, Joshua has been training for the race, which he says there is no chance he won't finish.

"If I had two broken legs, I would cross that finish line."

TEAM EFFORT

In addition to training, Joshua and the Long family have been busy securing individuals to sponsor him in the race.

What I really love about this fundraiser is that it truly is a team effort. I may be the one running the race, but that is inconsequential compared to the fundraising effort that is going on, and that I cannot do alone," Joshua said in an email.

For Roger and his family, Joshua's devotion to the cause has been touching.

"We are extremely honored to have Josh do this," Roger said. "I know enough to know it's not like walking to the post office."

Email Ashleigh Livingston at: alivingston@pressrepublican.com