Paul Tamburello

 

The Positive Spin for ALS began in 1995 with just one rider, Paul Tamburello, pedaling his way from Plymouth Rock to Provincetown to raise money for the fight against ALS.

Paul Tamburello became aware of ALS when he was diagnosed in 1993 with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a debilitating neuromuscular disease with similar symptoms to ALS. His response was to create the Positive Spin for ALS, an annual 86 mile "solo" bike ride from Plymouth Rock to Provincetown, MA. Beginning in 1997, Paul began packing his bike bag with the names of past and present ALS patients sent to him by the families and friends of those who sponsored him. He read off their names in an annual “roll call” at the breakwater at the end of Route 6A in Provincetown.

In 2002, Paul merged his ride with another already existing ALS ride. The merger changed the “Positive Spin for ALS” from a solo ride to a large-scale ride with several hundred cyclists participating, each able to choose between multiple different routes of varying lengths. Paul continued to ride and fundraise for the Spin until 2004. During his 10 years of raising money and awareness for the cause, he raised over $300,000 for ALS patient care and research.

In 2004, Paul retired from two fulfilling endeavors: a 34 year career teaching fourth graders at the John Pierce School in Brookline, MA and a ten year mission (1995-2004) to raise money for the ALS cause. He considers the Positive Spin for ALS to be his legacy to The ALS Association MA Chapter and is grateful to the hundreds of people who responded so generously to his fundraising efforts.