Thank you for helping me reach my Walk to Defeat ALS fundraising goal! 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.
ALS is commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig's Disease. The formal name is Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). 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 but certain populations are at higher risk. Military veterans are significantly more likely to develop ALS when compared to the general population.
Much is still unknown when it comes to ALS. We do not know why military veterans are at higher risk but the connection is so well established that the VA officially recognized the service connection in 2008, opening benefits for vets living with the disease. There is still no known cause, cure, or treatment that can halt progression of ALS.
This is the reason I walk and the reason I am so dedicated to fighting ALS. As a military spouse myself, knowing that veterans are at higher risk after service breaks my heart. I can only imagine the pain of thinking you've survived military service only to learn - possibly years down the line - that your time in service is still ultimately what will end your life because now you have ALS.
The past two 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.
But, we can’t stop now. We will keep losing military veterans to ALS until we finally find a cure and defeat ALS.
Please consider joining me in the fight to defeat ALS by walking with me or sponsoring me. With your help, we can raise awareness and get more funding so that we can ultimately find a cure for ALS.
Will you join me in the fight to defeat ALS - a fight that will save veteran lives?