Plunge To Support Retired Beverly Teacher's Spirited Fight Against ALS

BEVERLY, MA — Patti Drinkwater spoke with Patch nearly a year ago about the fears and uncertainties that come with an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis diagnosis, but also of her enduring positivity and determination to make the most of every day as she fights to be a person who beats the progressive neurodegenerative disorder.

Now almost two years following her ALS diagnosis, the retired North Beverly Elementary School teacher has seen everyday tasks become more and more difficult, yet she remains just as defiant in the face of a disease that still has no known cure.

"My mom's disease has progressed, and she can no longer walk, but she can still socialize with friends, scoot around town in her motorized wheelchair, and play with her granddaughters," Patti's daughter, Katie Drinkwater, told Patch this week. "Even though my mom's body is becoming weaker, her resolve is stronger than ever.

"I, personally, have never felt prouder of her. She's the rare type of person who churns out positivity and love for others despite her own struggles."

Still, there are terrible hardships that come with each next month and year battling ALS — both physical and financial. The family has organized several events over the past two years to help lift Patti's spirits and to raise money for devices that will extend her ability to enjoy life and be comfortable.

The next of those events will be the "Plunge For Patti" on Aug. 25 at West Beach where members of the Beverly community are invited to take a quick dip and make a donation to assist toward the estimated $100,000 in annual care and comfort costs for an ALS patient.

Katie Drinkwater said the family is grateful to the Falmouth non-profit Compassionate Care ALS for donating a floating Mobi beach wheelchair so Patti can watch her granddaughters play in the surf, as well as the loaning of the lime green wheelchair van that has become dubbed "The Patti Wagon."

But she allowed more assistance will be needed as the family tries to provide what they can to maintain as much of the life Patti lived so fully before ALS as possible.

"We've spent thousands of our own savings on resources and plan to continue to do so," Katie Drinkwater said in a social media post promoting the Patti Plunge. "We are beyond grateful for your help thus far, and we would love for you to participate in this plunge or donate even $1 to a plunger."

A donation link can be found here.

Those participating in the Patti Plunge are asked to arrive at about 5 p.m. for the 5:30 group dip into the ocean. Limited parking is available so walking or carpooling is advised.

Plunge costumes are optional, but also highly encouraged.

Those participating are invited to bring a chair and dinner and celebrate the effort to support Patti — and Patti's own persistent spirit — after the event.

"My positive attitude is because of the outpouring of love and support to help me to beat this disease not only from my family but friends and this community of Beverly," Patti Drinkwater told Patch in October. "I am a very hopeful person, trying hard each day to find the beauty in each sunrise and go to sleep at night having good thoughts about what my day was filled with.

"I don't want to waste a minute."

Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)