Help Me Fight ALS.
I'm running with Team ALS in the New York City Marathon to raise funds that will support individuals and families affected by ALS.
As most of you know my dad has ALS. I am asked often what ALS is. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as "Lou Gehrig's Disease," is a progressive disease of the nervous system that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. ALS does not affect intelligence, thinking, seeing or hearing so for some time we still had the pleasure of his "dad jokes" and story telling via Speech Synthesizer. If you know him at all you know this is a treat!
My dad and family have been deeply affected by this illness. He has lost control of most all muscles and can no longer speak or eat as he is now in the final stage of ALS. Sometimes we are submersed in frustration, anger, sadness, anxiety, and depression. Other times we inundated with love and gratitude that we can be together in each other's presence. We get another birthday, holiday, anniversary, Chiefs victory or share another milestone with him here.
It is hard to put into words how this affects your life, how time stands still, how every moment with him is not enough, how on most runs I near hyperventilate crying thinking of his pain (and my mom's patience, unconditional love and care) and then recompose myself when I can hear him say "Suck it up, Buttercup!"
It is hard to think of all the lives affected by his diagnosis and deeper when I think of how many families globally have been affected.
Running has always been my therapy so I couldn't be more proud and determined to combine my running with raising funds for the ALS Foundation. In fact, I cried when I filled out the application, knowing it was a long shot but bawled like a baby when I was accepted. Out of 900 applicants only 60 are selected. I want to do my part but I need your help.
It is easy to help others NOT experience this by donating to ALS United. Help the foundation find a cure. Help more families like mine get support. My mom has spoken highly as to how the foundation has helped her and dad the past years.
Please consider donating as it is easy.
My goal is to raise $7,000 ($1,000 for each year my Dad has lived with ALS). However, I can't comprehend how there should ever be a limit in support of ALS so that others DO NOT have this experience.
Your donation today will help ALS move closer to a world without the disease.
- Every ninety minutes, someone is diagnosed with the disease, and someone passes away from it.
- 90% of ALS cases occur without any known family history or genetic cause. The remaining 10% of ALS cases are inherited through a mutated gene with a known connection to the disease.
- 55 is the average age of onset with most people who develop ALS between the ages of 40 and 70. However, cases of the disease do occur in people in their twenties and thirties.
- ALS is 20% more common in men than women. However, with increasing age, the incidence of ALS is more equal between men and women.
- Military veterans are twice as likely to be diagnosed with the disease than the general public for yet unknown reasons.
Please feel free to send this page to any friend or family member who might be interested in donating.
![TeamRaiser Achievement Badge](../images/friendraiser_uploads/1413_1143_lg_1103.519050353.orig.png)
![TeamRaiser Achievement Badge](../images/friendraiser_uploads/1416_1146_lg_1000.202992860.orig.png)
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