Full story
We’ve heard it time and again: “In MY day, we didn’t have cell phones … people still talked to each other!” And, in the early days of Franklin Pierce College, this was a solid fact. Our dorm rooms did not have landlines (or the yet to be invented Internet) and the only way you could communicate was through the sometimes broken pay phone at the end of each hall. In the long, dark days of a New Hampshire winter, you could feel disoriented or even somewhat alone way up on the hill. Pearly Pond was frozen, and home seemed a long way off. If you failed to read the mimeographed announcements you might miss out on the infrequent social activities unless, of course, you were friends with Glade Cook! Glade was one of those amazing students who seemed to know about every campus happening and had a sincere intent on keeping the rest of us informed. He was, and is, just that enthusiastic and caring, and you were lucky to call him friend.
Back then, it was all about movement. We traveled together to and from the tiny dining hall on the bottom floor of Edgewood. We scurried along in the “wicked” wind, heading to the only building designed exclusively for academics. Ironically, we even moved freshmen in and out of dorms as we bid them “Howdy” at the beginning of each year, and, in the middle of everything, moving in and all around us, Glade brought smiles and bursts of laughter. His bright grin lit up a face that was almost hidden with a bold, dark mustache and gleaming black bangs. He was eager, energized, and quick to plan or jump on board with just about any idea that came his way. However, he was not prepared, nor were we, for the debilitating disease that would hit him way too soon and severely limit that wondrous movement.
Several years ago, Glade was diagnosed with ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. ALS affects nearly 450,000 worldwide, and 30,000 here in the United States. The symptoms are heart-breaking and impossible to ignore as one struggles to walk, talk, and even breathe. It is hard to watch any loved one go through an illness, especially someone so young, and (to date) there is no cure. But many of us are working to change that and we hope you can join us. We plan to use the power of life-long commitments to fight alongside with Glade.
As we move through the years as the amazing Class of ‘81, we continue to watch for opportunities to help and support each other. Thus, our work for today is to rally fiercely around Glade and his family, and to remember how fortunate we are to have each other as classmates. To that end, thirty-five years after graduation, we are celebrating our friendships during the Memorial Day weekend with a special reunion in their hometown of Marcy, New York. “United with Glade”, we are stronger than ever, and it is with anticipation and hope that we ask you to add to that strength! Please become part of the #challengeALS movement, even if you cannot join us in NY, and purchase this commemorative shirt to add funds to their mission. (Proceeds from the sales will go directly to Glade’s support system in Marcy.) Thank you in advance for becoming part of this new FPC movement, and for believing in the strength of loyalty and love as we empower our friend along his journey.
