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.  I am walking this year in the memory of my mom who passed away from ALS on December 1, 2016.

When mom told us on Thanksgiving of  2015 that she was diagosed with ALS, it was like a punch in the gut.  We all heard of this disease but none of us thought it would ever happen to our family.  Mom was a survivor, she conquered Stage IV breast cancer, but we all knew that she would not beat this.

This is a horrible disease.  Just watching the progression of this disease and the toll it took on my mom and the rest of my family was almost to much to bear.  The days and nights spent with my dad making charts to help us keep track of her medications, the times and doses, and then helping give mom her meds near the end to keep her comfortable was more than anyone should have to do.

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.

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. 

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. 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.