Shop for a Cure for ALS in Greenwich

Still need fashionable togs for the summer?

The Greenwich outpost of vineyard vines, the emporium for all fashions shoreline and preppy, will host a local celebrity sales event Saturday, June 29, to benefit the ALS Foundation. From noon to 4 p.m., Greenwich Police Chief James Heavey, Lt. Richard Cochran and First Selectman Peter Tesei will hold a 'sell-abrity' sales competition to see who can sell the most clothing and accessories at the 145 Greenwich Ave. shop.

vineyard vines will offer a 10-percent discount on purchases and donate that 10 percent to the ALS Foundation. The effort is in support of Greenwich Sgt. Roger Petrone, who suffers from ALS. ALS, known as "Lou Gehrig's Disease," is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord, that destroys the ability to move, causing paralysis and eventually death, according to the ALS Association website.

Cochran, who also is organizing the Team Greenwich cycling team for next month's Tri-State Trek, 270-mile bicycle run from Boston to Greenwich, said, Petrone is now paralyzed. "He can't speak anymore. He uses a computer to help with that. He has lost all use of his appendages," Cochran told Greenwich Patch.

"He's beaten the odds. Normally a person has three to five years after diagnosis. Roger's at six years," Cochran said.

Petrone, now 42, was diagnosed with ALS at the age of 36. Initially, doctors thought he was suffering from Lyme Disease and treated him for that for nearly a year, Cochran said. "Roger has asked specifically that all of the money go to bring awareness and to fund research for the ALS Foundation ... to find a cure so that others may live. He knows it's too late for him," Cochran added.

If people prefer to donate to the ALS Foundation via the Tri-State Trek, Cochran said people can help sponsor Team Greenwich which includes Cochran, Greenwich Police Officers Andres Sanchez and Marc Levy and Det. Christy Girard. For more information call Cochran at 203-618-8274.
 
The sales benefit on Saturday also will include a beer tasting from Half Full Brewery of Stamford and prize drawings.