Hi all! Through some twist of fate (admittedly of my own doing) I am running the New York City Marathon this year. I’m lucky enough to have gotten a spot with Team ALS, which is near and dear to my heart. As many of you know, I lost my dad to ALS in 2013. I’m pretty sure he would have laughed so hard at this, but I also know he would have secretly loved watching me struggle for 26.2 miles. It is not lost on me that I’m running for a disease that slowly robs your body of the ability to do much of anything and I feel so blessed to be able to do this and help in any small way. 

I’m running in honor of my dad, Jose Oliveira, and everyone else who has been taken too soon from a disease that desperately needs more funding for research. Any amount you can donate would mean the world to me—if you happen to be in NYC on November 2nd, I would love to see you as I cry my way across all five boroughs.

Standard ALS information below for those of you who want to know more about this disease:

By partnering with ALS United Greater New York, all the funds I raise will go toward where it's needed most: vital research, community support, and patient services.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as "Lou Gehrig's Disease," is a progressive disease of the nervous system that affects cells in the brain and spinal cord. Presently, there is no known cure for ALS.

• 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.

I joined Team ALS to push my physical limits for those who can't anymore. I want to bring hope, raise awareness and make an impact - and you can help me! Please donate, because -

Together, We End ALS!