Jason Palmer has always wanted to help others. After serving in the Navy, he started a career in EMS in 1996. A mentor for the cadet EMS program, 50-210 EMS Employee of the Year in 2011, a paramedic for Johnston County EMS and Four Oaks EMS, Jason has helped countless number of people. Now he is the one in need.
Jason was diagnosed in May 2015 with stage three ALS. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.
ALS eventually leads to the inability to speak, eat, move or breathe. There is no cure for ALS.
Currently Jason’s speech, swallowing and breathing have been affected. He needs a ventilator to help him breath, a feeding tube, and assistance moving.
The Johnston County EMS Association and co-workers of Jason are joining together to hold a “Team Palmer” 5K Run-Walk for financial and moral support for him and his family. Jason’s wife of 17 years, Lauren, was a nurse at WakeMed in Raleigh until she became disabled in 2011.
The event will be held on Saturday, August 22nd from 8:00 am to 11:00 pm at the Smithfield Recreation & Aquatic Center at 600 East Booker Dairy Road in Smithfield.
There will also be a one mile walk and a Kids Dash for children under the age of 12. The fee for the 5K event is $25 if registered by August 15th. The fee for the one mile walk is $20 with an event shirt or $15 without a shirt. There is no fee for the Kids Dash.
To take part in the any of the events, visit www.runnc.com to register.
Raffle tickets will be available for $10 each. The first place raffle ticket prize is $1000; second place $500, and third place $250. Food and t-shirts will be on sale at the 5K Run-Walk.
For more information, visit “Team Palmer” on Facebook. For information on the 5k contact Mark Holloman at 919-524-4254. To purchase raffle tickets or t-shirts call 919-989-5050. You can also email TeamPalmer2015@gmail.com.
