Childhood bond has special meaning for Carlson race organizer

Kelcy Dolan
Posted 4/16/15

As a child, Samia Pratt would visit her neighbor, Scott Carlson, and watch movies a few times a week. By this time Carlson had already been diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). At only …

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Childhood bond has special meaning for Carlson race organizer

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As a child, Samia Pratt would visit her neighbor, Scott Carlson, and watch movies a few times a week. By this time Carlson had already been diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). At only 5 years old, she would run over with cookies and knew how to feed Carlson with his gastronomy tube.

Judy Pratt, Samia’s mother, said that Carlson and her young daughter had a very special relationship.

“People with ALS can sometimes look fragile, but they can still feel. She would just climb on his lap and hug him. Adults try and be careful, but kids don’t have that apprehension. He was just her friend Scott,” she said.

Samia said that although Carlson loved kids he was afraid to have his own. At the time it wasn’t known whether or not ALS was hereditary and Carlson didn’t want to pass the disease down.

Samia said, “I really became like a surrogate child for him and we grew really close.”

Carlson, a known tri-athlete with many athletic friends, created a three-mile race, which is now know as the Scott Carlson Memorial Road Race, to educate people on ALS and raise money for the ALS Association, Rhode Island Chapter. The race is being held this Saturday at Goddard Park.

Judy said, “He knew just how important it was for people to stay with their families, to have a feeling of independence and support.”

The Pratt family quickly became involved with the road race, volunteering and participating.

After Carlson’s death in 2003 at the age of 39, Judy Pratt took over as race director and has been running the event for 10 years until this year.

To recognize, celebrate and honor her relationship growing up with Carlson, Samia will be race director for this year’s 15th annual race.

A junior at Warwick Veterans High School, Samia worked with the school to make sure she could use this year’s race as her senior project.

Although she will still present her project next year, she was given permission to run the 2015 road race because the 2016 race would happen too late in the year for her to finish in time for presentations.

Judy Pratt said, “The school was more than willing to let her do her project early.”

“I have always been involved in the race and it means so much to me. I think the school understood how important it was for me to do this,” Samia said.

She said it was difficult to balance the race, school and work as a junior, but knows when all is said and done it will be worth it. Both Samia’s parents and her school have been very supportive of her.

Samia said that ALS is “strikingly common” and people are often surprised just how many people are afflicted by the disease.

Samia will also be saying a few words at a PawSox game later this spring and will travel with her mother and the Rhode Island Delegation to Washington, D.C. for the National ALS Advocacy Day in May.

Since its inception, the Scott Carlson Memorial Race has raised $500,000 for the ALS Association, Rhode Island Chapter and for the last few years has averaged over $50,000 per race.

Samia said, “I am hoping this year the race will be bigger and better and we can raise more money to provide new medical equipment and raise awareness.”

Although really excited for the race and all the support she has received, Samia said she would be relieved when it is all over and she can relax.

“More than anything I hope everyone has a good time because that’s what Scott would have wanted,” Samia said.

The Scott Carlson Memorial Race is this Saturday, April 18, at Goddard Park. Online registration ends this afternoon but can be accessed through their website, www.teamals.org. You can also register on race day starting at 8:30 a.m. for $30. The race will begin at 10 and there will be a Kid’s Fun Run on the beach at 9:15.

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