Stricken athlete offers inspiration

By Mary Kaye Ritz
Advertiser Religion & Ethics Writer

Charlie Wedemeyer Free public talks with the Punahou grad and former Michigan State football star who lives with Lou Gehrig's disease 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Punahou School, Dillingham Hall; 944-5720 3 p.m. Wednesday, All-Star Sports & Therapy Center, 505 Ka'a'ahi St.; 537-4460 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Kamehameha Schools, Bishop Memorial Chapel; 842-8204

Some 23 years ago, in his first season as varsity coach of Los Gatos High School in California, Wedemeyer was stricken with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease. He was given two to three years to live.

Though he now has only limited movement of his face muscles and is on a respirator, he's alive to share his story in lectures all over the country.

While here, he and his wife will talk about their life and faith, and Wedemeyer will discuss the technology for the handicapped that now allows him to speak with a computer-generated voice, using eye movements.

The family made this trip to Hawai'i to celebrate the graduation of his son, Kale, from USC medical school.

"That in itself is a miracle," said Suzanne Maurer, one of a trio of people producing a documentary about Wedemeyer and his wife. "Nobody thought Charlie would live to see his son graduate from high school, let alone medical school."

Maurer, a religion teacher at Kamehameha Elementary School, said the last of the footage for the documentary will be shot during the visit. "Courage to Live: The Story of Charlie and Lucy Wedemeyer" is being filmed by Donald Mapes of Kailua.

Wedemeyer also has been the subject of the 1987 documentary "One More Season"; a CBS movie, "Quiet Victory," and the autobiography "Charlie's Victory," co-written by the Wedemeyers and Gregg Lewis.