Iona alum Pat Quinn was the star of the rugby team. He played all four years on the team up until his graduation in 2006. Quinn played football, basketball and softball well after graduation.

During a softball game in 2011, Quinn started to feel a twitching sensation in his left arm. He assumed it was because he was tired from playing all day.

“That’s when the symptoms began,” said Jennifer Flynn, Quinn’s girlfriend and Iona graduate of the class of 2007.

On Mar. 8 of this year, Quinn was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), better known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

The disease affects the motor neurons, which control the movement of muscles. The disease breaks down the muscle tissue, making the diagnosed eventually unable to move, speak, or even intake food on their own.

ALS usually affects those in their fifties. Quinn was diagnosed in his early thirties, making him a rare case of this disease.

Currently, there is no cure for the devastating disease.

Instead of allowing ALS to ruin their spirits, Quinn and Flynn will host “Quinn for the Win,” a fundraiser aiming to raise money for ALS awareness.

“Quinn for the Win” will take place on Dec. 1 in Rory Dolans Irish Pub in Yonkers, starting at 2 p.m.

All Iona students are invited to enjoy the live music and learn more about ALS.

There will be live performances from bands Jameson’s Revenge, Broken Banjo Strings, Girsa, Erin Lougran and Micky Coleman, plus a performance from The Narrowbacks, who are also Iona alumnae.

There will also be a silent auction. Winners can take home NHL memorabilia, sports tickets, designer handbags and gift certificates to local restaurants.

Although Quinn was diagnosed with ALS early in his life, he is not letting the disease get him down.

“Pat is staying positive throughout his illness,” said Flynn. “He really gets involved in various information sessions, various ALS organizations, and wants to meet people who are similar to him.”

“We aren’t letting the diagnosis define him or define us,” said Flynn. “We are building it into our lives.”

Flynn says she will never forget the day that Quinn was diagnosed.

“We were in Maryland when we heard the devastating news and had to drive four hours home,” Flynn said. “It was probably the hardest thing that I ever had to do.”

Quinn and Flynn met at Iona. They were both criminal justice majors and they were lab partners in a night class. They never dated in college, but remained in touch after graduation and eventually began dating.

There will be bracelets and raffle tickets on sale in the LaPenta lobby at noon on Nov. 15 to help with fundraising for Quinn’s cause.