Thank you for donating and helping our ALS community! This event raises funds to provide real support for 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. But not every person with ALS feels the way Grandma did, and many are young adults and have young children. ALS doesn’t discriminate— it can happen to any of us.

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.

Ever since the first Ice Bucket Challenge there have been advancements in ALS research, expanded access to care for people living with ALS, and legislation that impacts the quality of life of people with ALS and their families. But there’s so much more to do, starting with helping people right here who have been diagnosed with ALS. This is where ALS Arizona meets the community, with equipment, services, support, and more.

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.