In July of 2019 ALS changed the lives of my family and me forever.  My wife, Rosalie, was diagnosed with ALS that month, and life will never be the same.  She was told to do all she could and wanted to do while she could because she had little time, and there is no cure for the disease.  She basically received a death sentence.  The shock, the hurt, the unanswered questions of what to expect and how to pay for it all, and the enormity of it all was overwhelming and inescapable.  Fortunately, we were quickly introduced to our local ALS Association Chapter.  Through their help we did not have to walk through this journey alone.  ALS Association helped us with loaned devices Rosalie came to need for her care as she progressively lost her abilities to stand, walk, swallow, eat, speak, breath without effort, cough, sit up on her own, lie flat, and eventually she lost the ability to care for herself in any way. The ALS Association helped facilitate the needed palliative and supportive medical care she received, and offered support services of respite care and support groups.  It is also because of their advocacy in government circles that Rosalie didn't have to wait to get Social Security benefits started.  All that saved us a lot of money and grief and helped us navigate the ALS journey.  Rosalie died of ALS in May of 2020.  The ALS Association continued to offer support services for the family after Rosalie passed away.  

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, fatal neuromuscular disease that slowly robs the body of its ability to walk, speak, swallow and breathe. The life expectancy of a person with ALS averages 2 to 5 years from the time of diagnosis.  ALS can strike anyone, and presently there is no known cause or cure.

The Walk to Defeat ALS raises funds to support those affected by ALS and to spread awareness of the urgency to find treatments and a cure.  That’s why I’m walking. To change the statistics. To bring help and hope to those living with the disease. To strive for the goal that no one ever hears the words: “You Have ALS” again. 

The past few years have brought incredible advancements in ALS research, expanded access to care for people living with ALS, and enabled legislation that impacts the quality of life of people with ALS and their families.  The ALS Association has added the goal to make ALS livable by the year 2030.  This includes not only making the disease survivable but preventable for those with a predisposition to the disease.  We can’t stop now. The key to a cure begins with you. 

Please consider walking with me and/or sponsoring me. Donate to the cause.  With your help, we will be able to make a difference in the lives of people affected by this disease. 

Thank you so much for your help!