Thank you for donating and 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 for this fatal, progressive, neuromuscular disease.

My grandma, Leila (Lee-EYE-la), was a quiet, hardworking, and loving person. She shied away from the spotlight, but since her diagnosis of ALS we’ve been trying to shine a light on her life to spread awareness of ALS as we hope for a cure. Grandma was a widow and when she was diagnosed, it didn’t take long for her to decide this was not a fight she wanted to take on. Imagine learning your body would betray you, paralyzing you slowly, robbing you of the ability to eat, communicate, and eventually breathe, all while your mind remains fully aware. She passed away less than eight months after diagnosis, on Grandpa’s birthday, in 2003.

That’s why I’ve been walking for the last two decades. To change the statistics. To bring help and hope to those living with the disease. To support the caregivers who help their loved one fight this disease. To ensure that no one ever hears the words: “You Have ALS” again!  There’s no guarantee that the next person I know who has ALS won’t be another loved one, or myself. And as if the loss that comes with ALS isn’t enough, the financial burden this disease puts on a family can be devastating.

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 starts with all of US.  Please consider walking with me or making a donation to my team. With your help, we will be able to make a difference in the lives of people affected by this disease.