OUR TEAM STORY
Our dad/grandpa/brother/uncle/friend James ‘Skip’ Harrer was diagnosed with ALS in early 2023. For those who don’t know him, Skip has always been known for his sense of humor, his ability to talk to anyone, his handyman skills and willingness to help anyone at any time. He is the life of the party. A guitar player, a singer, a precision painter, a guy who loves playing games and who can craft a tool out of the oddest supplies to solve the most unusual problem. ALS is robbing him of his ability to do nearly all of these things.
We are called Walter’s Walker(s) because as dad has shifted into the old curmudgeon phase of life, we have had to remind him of the humor required when being a grump is a easy reaction. Think of the famous Walters you know - Matthau, the Walter’s from Gran Torino or On Golden Pond, maybe even Jeff Dunham’s crabby old puppet - and perhaps you understand why we call him Walter to diffuse otherwise frustrating situations. ALS is the ultimate frustrating situation.
So we are walking to honor him. We are walking to help others like him. We are walking because we have seen first hand the power of the ALS Association and all that it offers to patients and families. We would be struggling far more if we did not have the counsel, the resources or the support of this amazing organization.
WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP
Every 90 minutes a person in this country is diagnosed with ALS and another person will lose their battle against this disease.
ABOUT ALS
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. Presently there is no known cause of the disease, yet it still costs loved ones an average of $250,000 a year to provide the care people living with ALS and their families need. Join the movement to provide help and hope today!
