Inaugural Joey Bell ALS Walk Draws Community Together to Honor Beloved Physician, Raise Awareness
More than 400 people gathered at UNC Pembroke鈥檚 Grace P. Johnson Stadium on Saturday to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Joey Bell 鈥 a beloved physician, mentor and trailblazer whose impact continues to ripple across generations.
The inaugural Joey Bell ALS Walk attracted 420 registered participants and raised $23,000 to support ALS United North Carolina, funding critical care services, equipment and research for those battling the disease.
For Joey鈥檚 family, the overwhelming turnout was both humbling and deeply meaningful.
鈥淲e knew people loved Joey,鈥 said his brother, Greg Bell. 鈥淏ut to see this many people come out 鈥 family, friends, former patients, colleagues 鈥 it just shows how many lives he touched. He treated three generations of children. Everybody loved him, and he loved them right back.鈥
Throughout the stadium, participants wore T-shirts adorned with the medicine wheel in American Indian colors 鈥 a powerful symbol of Joey鈥檚 Lumbee heritage and his lifelong commitment to serving his community.
Rocky Locklear, director of Leadership, Learning and Community at UNCP, said the event reflected the connection between the university and the broader community.
鈥淭here were so many stakeholders represented 鈥 from healthcare professionals to community leaders 鈥 which speaks to the influence of the Bell family,鈥 Locklear said. 鈥淗osting the walk on campus provided a central place for people to come together. It felt like a family reunion, bringing together not only the local community but also those connected to the Bells from across the state.鈥
Locklear noted that the event also created opportunities for student engagement 果冻视频 the classroom.
鈥淲e had students participating and volunteering,鈥 Locklear said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about stepping outside of the classroom, dedicating time to a cause and gaining a deeper awareness of issues like ALS. When the community comes to campus, our students get to see what service and connection truly look like.鈥
He added that the collaboration aligns with UNCP鈥檚 mission.
鈥淐ommunity engagement is at the heart of what we do,鈥 Locklear said. 鈥淓vents like this take dedication from so many people 鈥 campus partners, volunteers and community stakeholders 鈥 all working together to honor someone like Dr. Bell while making a meaningful impact.鈥
A pediatrician for more than three decades, Joey was the first Lumbee and American Indian pediatrician in North Carolina. This distinction opened doors for countless others who followed in his footsteps.
鈥淗e was like a tree,鈥 Greg said. 鈥淎ll the branches coming off him 鈥 the pediatricians he mentored, the providers he encouraged to come back and serve this community. That鈥檚 his legacy.鈥
That legacy was reflected not only in numbers but also in the stories shared throughout the day.
Ronny Bell, Joey鈥檚 younger brother, recalled a story told to him during the walk by one of Joey鈥檚 former classmates.
鈥淗er son had a really bad case of mono,鈥 Ronny said. 鈥淎nd every day after work, Joey would drive by their house just to check on him. That鈥檚 who he was 鈥 he wanted to make sure his patients were taken care of.鈥
Ronny described his brother as someone who spent a lifetime lifting others up.
鈥淗e was a very caring person,鈥 he said. 鈥淲hether it was mentoring students or supporting friends, he always wanted to bring out the best in people.鈥
Joey carried that same quiet strength into his battle with ALS.
鈥淗e never complained,鈥 Ronny said. 鈥淗e never asked, 鈥榃hy me?鈥 He just took it in stride and kept going.鈥
Even as the disease progressed, Joey remained committed to his patients and his purpose. He continued working 鈥 first in person, then via telehealth and in administrative roles 鈥 until the final weeks of his life.
鈥淗e just kept going,鈥 said his wife, Vicky Bell. 鈥淗e believed it didn鈥檛 do any good to stop. He wanted to continue taking care of his patients as long as he could.鈥
For Vicky, seeing the community come together in his honor reflected the life he lived.
鈥淚t meant everything,鈥 she said. 鈥淗is whole life was about doing for others. He always said it鈥檚 not about us 鈥 it鈥檚 about what we can do for other people.鈥
The event also carried special meaning for Joey鈥檚 family, as it came just one day before what would have been his 67th birthday.
Despite his many accomplishments, Joey remained humble throughout his life.
鈥淗e never wanted attention,鈥 Ronny said. 鈥淏ut I think he would have appreciated people coming together for a good cause 鈥 and celebrating something bigger than himself.鈥
For Vicky, Joey鈥檚 legacy is rooted not only in medicine but also in how he lived his life.
鈥淗e had a servant鈥檚 heart,鈥 Vicky said. 鈥淗e believed everyone has gifts and that we鈥檙e meant to use them to help others. He truly believed the world could be a better place if we all worked together.鈥