Five friends are banding in a fight against a deadly disease that has left one of them disabled.

Friends of Rickey Biggs, who suffers from Lou Gehrig's disease, are planning a fund-raiser. They are Charlotte Singleton, Mike Hamberg, Lisa Garcia and Biggs' fiancee, Bobbie Jo Berry.

The Race Against Lou Gehrig's Disease Benefit is 2-11 p.m. Saturday at Nathanael Greene Lodge, 6394 Wesselman Road, Green Township.

Rickey Biggs (right), who has Lou Gehrig's disease, sits with his fiancee, Bobbie Jo Berry, his child Conor and friend Mike Hamberg. They and others are sponsoring the Race Against Lou Gehrig's Disease Benefit on Saturday. The Cincinnati Enquirer/STEVEN M. HERPPICH

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a fatal neuromuscular disease characterized by progressive muscle weakness resulting in paralysis.

Hamberg said the fund-raiser will feature a disc jockey, live music, stand-up comedian Tim Jones, four Bengal cheerleaders, food and drinks.

The event is not a race, but will seek contributions from donors.

A cash prize of $500 will be given away through a raffle, Hamberg said.

"We are trying to raise money for a handicap van and for an addition to his (Biggs') mother's home to make it handicap accessible,'' Hamberg said. "I have been a friend of Rickey's since we were 9 years old. We grew up skating and playing hockey together.''

Berry said the fund-raiser is important because of the need to have handicap accessibility for Biggs.

"We are trying to make it as comfortable as we can for him,'' Berry said. "We hope everyone will join us.''

Working out for dollars

Richard Casey, a resident at the Madeira Health Care Center, has turned his cardiovascular exercise program into a fund-raiser for the American Heart Association. He has been able to raise $100 by getting sponsors for his program.

"The program is really helping me out because my doctor wants me to get the exercise,'' Casey said. "Approaching people to get sponsors was pretty easy for me because when I worked in the Philadelphia Fire Department, we always conducted fund-raisers for charity.''

Casey, 60, said much of his exercise is done while sitting. "I actually have more strong muscles in my legs then I ever had.''

Casey does the exercises in his program about five times a week.

Through such small fund-raisers as Casey's, the center and five others owned by Premier Health Care Management have raised about $5,900, said Lauran McHaffie, fitness director at the Madeira center.

"We are very proud of Casey and his initiative to make a difference in his community,'' McHaffie said.

Premier Health Care Management has started a campaign called We are Your Neighbor and We Care.

The group plans to participate in three fund-raising walks this year. One was the Humana Heart Mini-Marathon last Sunday in which the group had 88 walkers participating.

Officers honored

The Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce gave its annual Chairman's and President's Awards to two police officers at its annual meeting last week.

Officer Patrick Galligan got the Chairman's Award for his aggressive policing in Over-the-Rhine and the West End.

Officials said he was targeted by a member of the Tot Lot Posse on Feb. 21, when he was shot at while in an unmarked car.

"That's certainly a sign that he's doing his job," said the Chamber's outgoing chairman, Bob Schneider, who called Galligan "an exceptional officer."

Galligan's boss, District 1 commander Capt. Jim Whalen, got the President's Award. City Manager Valerie Lemmie said Whalen was exactly what the city needed as District 1 commander.

"We knew we absolutely had to have the best person, who was motivated, compassionate and concerned," she said.

"It's not just a professional commitment, but a personal one. He has done a tremendous job in a very difficult neighborhood."