Medford Man With ALS Raising Money Through Boston Marathon

MEDFORD, MA — A resident is not letting ALS hinder him from participating in marathons and raising money for causes working to combat the disease.

Scott Dorfman was diagnosed with the illness in 2021 when he was 38 years old. He said the diagnosis gave him a new perspective on life and that spending time with his wife, Laura, their two children Riley and Eliana, and other loved ones became his priority. Approximately one year ago, one of those loved ones gave him an additional purpose.

Tatsuya Arai and Dorfman became friends in 2009 when both were attending graduate school at the University of California San Diego. Arai approached Dorfman with the idea of running as a duo in the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington D.C., which acted as a gateway for the pair’s upcoming participation in the Boston Marathon on Monday, April 20.

“It was a little weird to be pushed for a whole marathon especially after being a very active person my whole life before this diagnosis, but it was enjoyable and we happened to get a qualifying time for Boston and were the fastest duo team in that race,” Dorfman told Patch. “This was a pretty incredible feat for Tats, especially being his first time ever pushing someone in a race.”

Dorfman added that his friend has many years of marathon experience, and that he was initially hesitant when Arai approached him with the idea at first.

Dorfman and Arai’s online fundraiser has raised more than $20,000 for ALS organizations Hope Loves Company, Team Gleason, Compassionate Care ALS, the Mary Beth Benison Foundation and the Fanny Pack Foundation. It is currently on pace to far surpass its goal of $22,000.

“Given that the Boston marathon is right in our backyard and we were expecting a lot of people to come out and support us, I thought it would be an opportune time to put together a fundraiser to give back to some organizations that have been so helpful to me over the last few years,” Dorfman told Patch. “It was also an opportunity to share my story with a broader audience, as really only close friends and family knew what I was going through at the time.”

Dorfman said his Medford neighbors and its greater community have been extremely supportive and helpful as he navigates daily life.

“We were hesitant to reach out for support for some time, but once we did, we have been extremely grateful for lots of different things,” Dorfman said. “People bringing our family a home cooked meal (someone set up a meal train for us), offering to watch our kids, or even neighbors physically helping me get into the car or the house.”

Dorfman moved to Medford three years ago. Before his diagnosis, he enjoyed traveling, hiking, skiing, and ice hockey.

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