Teaming up when it comes to family

Bannons join effort to fund ALS research

By WILLIAM K. ALCORN

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — Chuck Bannon’s family promised him his suffering would not be in vain.

This weekend, his brother, sister and widow, Team Bannon, are riding in the Tri-State Trek, a 272-mile bicycle ride from Boston to New York City in his honor to raise awareness of ALS and money for research on the disease that struck him down at age 44.

“We promised him,” his sister, Lisa Bannon Steinmetz of New Jersey, said of herself and Chuck’s brother, Breen of Cornersburg, and Chuck’s wife, Elaine Bannon of Michigan.

Chuck, who grew up in Boardman and graduated in 1982 from Boardman High School, died of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) April 18. He lived three years after his diagnosis.

ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord that control the movement of voluntary muscles. When the motor neurons can no longer send impulses to the muscles because of ALS, the muscles begin to waste away, causing increased muscle weakness and paralysis, according to the ALS Therapy Development Institute.

“We feel obligated to help find a cure for this devastating illness so other families won’t have to experience what our family did,” said Lisa, who also grew up in Boardman.

The Friday-Sunday Tri-State Trek benefits the ALS Therapy Development Institute.

In preparation for the rugged event, Breen, who gave up smoking a month ago, said he has been riding about 30 miles a day in Mill Creek MetroParks. He completed a two-day, 150-mile ride from Youngstown to Lake Erie and back July 11 and 12 to see if he was ready.

“That was my last hurrah before the Trek. It was a grueling trip,” he acknowledged.

The Trek will be the real test, he said.

Breen said he and his sister and sister-in-law have had similar experiences during training.

“No one has lost weight, but it has been redistributed, and we are always hungry,” he said.

Chuck, Breen and Lisa are the children of retired Mahoning County Common Pleas Judge Charles J. Bannon and Elizabeth (Betty) Bannon, both of Boardman.

Breen, 41, said the family has been going to Chuck’s home in Michigan the past few years to celebrate the Fourth of July.

Spending July Fourth together is a long-standing family tradition, particularly for Breen and Chuck, Lisa said.

“They started when they were teenagers blowing off fireworks at my dad’s trailer on Lake Erie. If I recall correctly, the local police were often visitors to these events. Even as my brothers got older and married and had kids, it was one of the few times they could really let go and be rebellious. It used to drive my dad nuts,” she said.

“This year it was just not the same. Without him, it seemed like the whole house was empty,” Breen said.

“We were fairly close in age and had similar interests. He was my big brother,” he said.

Breen followed in Chuck’s footsteps, going to Ohio University to study engineering; however, after a year, he came back home to study business at Youngstown State University and became vice president of business banking at Huntington National Bank in Youngstown. Chuck became an engineer and worked at Ford Motor Co., where he was a vehicle dynamics supervisor.

Training for the race has been a challenge for all three riders.

“It has been a Herculean effort for me. My husband, who married me when I was a chain-smoking night owl of a newspaper reporter, says I am unrecognizable now that I am getting up at 6 a.m. on Sundays to ride 50 miles on the bike,” Lisa said.

“In the beginning, five miles felt like a lot. I did 100 miles this past Sunday. My knees and elbows and back hurt at times, but in 10 weeks, I have gone from zero to the best shape I have been in since college,” Elaine said.

There has been minimal government research on ALS, and that’s why it’s so important to raise private money with events such as the Tri-State Trek, Breen said.

“It is a terrible disease. He [Chuck] knew. Your mind stays lucid. You just sit there and wait to die. I could never do it. There is no hope,” he said.

“Knowing the disease was terminal, we cherished the time we had together and ... I was able to re-establish the close friendship that Chuckie and I had shared as children. I got to say everything I wanted to and let him know how much I love him,” Lisa said.

Besides riding to honor Chuck, the Bannons are riding to raise money for ALS research.

People interested in supporting their effort can mail a contribution to ALS-TDI, Tri-State Trek, 215 First St., Cambridge, MA 02142 and specify it for Team Bannon. Also, in the Youngstown area, people can donate by visiting Breen’s Web site at www.active.com/donate/Trek2009/BBannon. Team Bannon’s goal is $20,000.

Chuck will be in Team Bannon’s hearts and minds during the Tri-State Trek, and, in a real sense, part of him will be there, too.

Breen is riding the Trek on his brother’s bike.

alcorn@vindy.com

Breen O. Bannon

Age: 41

Residence: Cornersburg

Hometown: Boardman

Family: Parents - Retired Judge Charles J. Bannon and Elizabeth (Betty) Bannon, both of Boardman; son, Adam.

Occupation: Vice president of business banking at Huntington National Bank in Youngstown.

Education: Youngstown State University, 1991, bachelor of science degree in business; Youngstown Cardinal Mooney High School, 1986.

What Breen will say to Chuck when he finishes the ride:

We made it. Your courage and will to fight keep us going. We miss you.

Quote: “The hardest moments were seeing Chuck’s ... frustration trying to use a body that did not work anymore. Chuck was very independent and was a firm believer in doing things himself, which he could not do anymore.”

Lisa Bannon Steinmetz

Age: 48

Residence: Glen Ridge, N.J.

Hometown: Boardman.

Family: Parents, retired Judge Charles J.. Bannon and Elizabeth (Betty) Bannon, both of Boardman; husband, George Steinmetz; children, Nell, 10, Nicholas, 7, and John Charles, 7.

Occupation: Wall Street Journal, Page One editing staff.

Education: Miami University, bachelor of arts, 1982; Youngstown Cardinal Mooney High School, 1978.

What Lisa will say to Chuck when she finishes the ride:

This is just the beginning. If you think this was an accomplishment, just wait. I’m going to spend the rest of my life making noise, raising money and awareness so we can help find a treatment and cure for a disease that truly devastated my brother and our family.

Quote: “All of your daily problems pale when you watch someone you love suffer. For three years we had to stand by helplessly and watch Chuckie deteriorate without being able to help him because there is no treatment or cure for ALS. It was a tragedy for our entire family, especially his wife and son, who will be 6 on July 27.”

Elaine Bannon

Age: 45

Residence: Northville, Mich.

Hometown: Northville

Family: Son, John.

Occupation: Chief engineer for the Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX at Ford Motor Co.

Education: University of Michigan, bachelor of science in mechanical engineering and master’s in business administration.

What Elaine will say to Chuck when she finishes the ride:

We did it. I love you.

Quote: “I view this illness the same way the Marines view their own — leave no Marine behind. We need to find a treatment/cure for this illness ... leave no one behind. It is one of the most horrible diagnosis any person can get. Chuck was noble and strong in his fight. That cannot go in vain.”