Katie Gonzalez
Walking for mom: A daughter's fight against ALS
Event: | Cleveland Walk |
Date: | Sunday, September 15, 2024 |
Team: | Team Wirtz |
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.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, fatal neuromuscular disease that slowly robs the body of its ability to walk, speak, swallow and breathe. ALS can strike anyone, and presently there is no known cause or cure.
That’s why I’m walking. To change the statistics. To bring help and hope to those living with the disease. To ensure that no one ever hears the words: “You Have ALS” again.
My journey with ALS is deeply personal. My mother was diagnosed with ALS in April 2024, and it brought back the painful memories of losing my uncle to this relentless disease in 2021 after his courageous battle, which began with his diagnosis in 2018. Our family carries the C9orf72 gene mutation, making us part of the 5-10% of families with a genetic component to this disease. This fight against ALS is not just about raising funds - it’s about hope, love, and finding a cure for future generations. Please join us in supporting this vital cause and making a difference in the lives of those affected by ALS.
Our family’s journey was highlighted on Cleveland.com on May 24, 2024, in the article “Kindland: Finding Kindness and Hope in the Cruel and As-Yet Incurable ALS Neurodegenerative Disease.”
You can support Team Wirtz and Team Polito in several ways: join our team for the ALS Walk, contribute to our fundraising efforts on September 13th at P.J. McIntyre's, or share our story and the importance of ALS research with your network. We are incredibly grateful for your support. Every contribution, whether it’s walking with us, donating, or sharing our message, brings hope to those affected by ALS. Together, we can make a difference.
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.
But, we can’t stop now. The key to a cure begins with you.
Please consider walking with me or sponsoring me. With your help, we will be able to make a difference in the lives of people affected by this disease.
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Aaron & Renee Price
$50.00
Anne & Bro
$100.00
Anonymous
$250.00
Anonymous
$25.00
Anonymous
$25.00
Anonymous
$20.00
Bilal and Sarina Butt
$100.00
Brittany Berkowitz
$100.00
Carol Pehotsky
$100.00
Christine Rose
Christopher White
$250.00
Dominique Cicchi
$50.00
Donette
$25.00
Edenia Joyce
$100.00
Evelyn & Esme Wirtz-Egan
$10.00
Fabrice and Marissa
$100.00
Fink Family
$200.00
Gillian Smith
$50.00
Halli Shumaker
$50.00
Henry Hoang
$50.00
James Tayse
$50.00
Jeremy Amps
$500.00
Julie Callahan
$25.00
Karen Favicchia
$75.00
Katie & Nate Gonzalez
$250.00
Kim & Anne Stearns
$100.00
Kristen & Rico
$100.00
Lisa Jobe
$25.00
Lori Koenig
$25.00
Maggie
Maggie Vangelos
Nancy James
$30.00
Rebecca Pierce
$100.00
Rosemary Britton
$50.00
Sally Barber
$1,600.00
Susan Lopez
$50.00
The McLaughlin Family
Trevor Murray
$100.00
Veronica Painter
$50.00
Yvonne Schafer
$50.00
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