Nola brothers’ uncle inspired Strike Out ALS event
BATON ROUGE, La. — Aaron and Austin Nola smiled Thursday as they talked about their uncle, Alan Andries.
He would have liked this.
He definitely liked them. He and his spouse Maureen attended virtually each baseball recreation the Nolas performed at LSU. So a lot in order that when Austin or Aaron couldn’t spot them of their typical part at Alex Box Stadium, they requested their mother and father, A.J. and Stacie, the place they have been.
Alan died on Feb. 10, 2021, following a brave six-year battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Thursday, the Nola brothers hosted their second Strike Out ALS occasion at Red Stick Social, the place donors bowled and rubbed elbows with the brothers who not too long ago confronted one another within the National League Championship Series.
“Our uncle was so positive,” Aaron stated.
“He was so smart,” Austin stated. “He loved to teach. Numbers, fixing things, financial things, he always had his head into something.”
“He could fix anything,” Aaron stated. “He could solve any problem.”
So, of their manner, the Nolas need to do their half to assist clear up ALS. They hope their occasion raises native consciousness of the illness and raises cash to fund among the analysis that in the end ends it.
“We do it here, somebody else does it in the northwest, somebody else does it in the southwest,” Austin stated. “Suddenly, wow, we’ve touched the whole country.”
June 2 is Lou Gehrig Day in Major League Baseball. It is an enormous day for the Nola household.
“Jackie Robinson Day got bigger and bigger over the years,” Aaron stated. “Hopefully this is the same thing. Guys wearing Lou Gehrig cleats, jerseys, wristbands. Hopefully it gets bigger and bigger.”
Aaron first grew to become aware of ALS by the Phillies, who partnered with The ALS Association virtually 40 years in the past to develop into their main charity. Around the time Aaron attended his first Phillies Phestival, which has donated hundreds of thousands to the ALS Association, Alan was identified with the illness.
“He had a smile on his face,” Austin stated.
Maureen Andries beamed Thursday as she watched her massive league nephews mingle with the group. She is the second of seven siblings. Aaron and Austin’s father, A.J., is the youngest.
The Nola household may be very shut.
“He just loved following the boys,” Maureen stated. “Three years in the past, Alan was in a wheelchair. He misplaced the flexibility to perform independently, however he was so thrilled to be right here. At the tip, he might solely transfer his finger. But the boys entertained us, night time after night time. If Austin wasn’t enjoying, Aaron was pitching. He couldn’t look ahead to the video games to return on TV.
“Alan was the most interesting man. He was a financial advisor for Morgan Stanley, but he could do anything. He could take a car apart and put it back together. He fixed things. He was the most vibrant and active person. He played tennis. He played golf. And then he gets this disease that he can’t do anything with. He was just the most brilliant, interesting man.”
When Alan died, Aaron and Austin couldn’t attend the funeral in Baton Rouge. Aaron was in Clearwater, Fla., for Spring Training. He obtained the OK to maneuver up his scheduled bullpen session so he might watch the providers through FaceTime. Austin was in camp with the Padres in Arizona. He couldn’t get away in any respect. He watched a recording of the service afterward on his cellphone.
“That’s why we’re doing it here,” Austin stated. “We couldn’t be there, but we can figure out a way to make it mean something for everybody else.”
Alan Andries solved issues. Before he handed, he and Maureen talked about her future. Or, as he known as it, her “fourth quarter.” She stated she didn’t need to stay in an enormous home with a pool anymore. She needed to downsize and transfer nearer to household.
Alan walked her by the method of shopping for lots, and in the end constructing a home upon it. Everything went easily. She is having one other assembly with a contractor quickly, and hopes to interrupt floor after that.
The lot is on the identical avenue the place the Nola children grew up, and the place A.J. and his spouse Stacie nonetheless stay. In truth, it’s proper throughout the road. Maureen and A.J.’s brother, Bubba, lives on the road, too. So does a nephew.
It’s a avenue of Nolas.
“Isn’t it amazing?” Maureen stated. “Alan had it all planned. He fixed everything for everybody. I miss the heck out of that.”
Everybody misses him. Thursday’s occasion was proof of it. He impressed them, and now the Nola brothers hope to assist others beat ALS.
“He appreciated it,” Aaron stated of being at their first occasion a couple of years in the past. “It’s a good cause. It’s not about us. It’s about raising money and trying to help people down the road. It’s about everybody pitching in at some point.”
