Tied by Terry
It's not a stretch to say that my mom, Terry Schonhoff, has tied thousands of kids' shoes throughout her life. From her four sons and their friends to six grandchildren to hundreds of students in over 20 years at Incarnate Word grade school, she has always taken the time to lovingly knot together loose laces. Though simple, the small act of tying a child's shoes can teach us adults a lot about life - about the importance of asking for help when we struggle, the beauty of coming together to support someone in need, and the impact that small acts of love can have on someone's life.
Since we found out about the diagnosis in May of 2022, my mom has lost much of her strength and mobility in her lower body. Yet she is a shining example of what it means to live with ALS and an inspiration to all who know her. While there is still a lot of fear and unknown, there's also never been more hope in the fight to defeat ALS. From caregivers' support groups to connecting us to power chair resources that allow my mom to still live life to the fullest, the ALS Association has walked with us every step of the way. With the progress made in understanding this disease in the last decade, there's never been more hope in the fight to defeat ALS. That's why we are walking - to bring hope, raise awareness, support families, and find a cure.
Our family plans to be a part of this walk for years to come. On behalf of all of us, we ask for your help to support us in our need and commit to a small act of love. Please consider walking with us on June 22 (in-person or virtually) or donating on behalf of a team member. We thank you for your support and prayers. We are tackling this hand in hand, tied together by our love for Terry and the impact she has made in our lives.
If you would like to order a shirt to match our team the day of the walk, please use this link.