Team J.A.C.K. - Why We Walk ALS
Thank you for taking the time to read this story, I hope you are moved to act.
Spring 2015. Abigail was in kindergarten. During the end-of-year party, her teacher played a video with graduation music and the kids in their caps and gowns while she talked about how fast they grow up. I started to cry because I was afraid that Chris wouldn’t be there to see her graduate high school. My heart broke for them both.
Summer 2026. Abigail is entering her senior year. I hate that my fear became reality, that we’ve been without Chris for almost 11 years. I hate that there are still families going through this same thing, children that will grow up and go through all of life’s beautiful moments without one of their parents, and parents that will lose their battle with ALS when all they want is to be with their children.
That is why we fight. Even after 11 years. We formed TEAM J.A.C.K. (Jacob, Abigail, Chris, and Kelly) to fight. To fight. Until. There. Is. A. Cure. Until children don’t lose their parents to ALS.
On September 19. 2026, TEAM J.A.C.K. will walk our 12th Walk ALS. We will not stop fighting, we will not stop walking, not until there is a cure for ALS so no one – no child, no parent, no spouse, no friend – has to suffer the loss of someone they love to ALS.
Please support Team J.A.C.K. as we raise funds to fight for a cure in the Walk ALS Long Island on Saturday, September 19th.
Thank you, on behalf of Team J.A.C.K. – Jacob, Abigail, Chris, and Kelly – thank you.
Sincerely,
Kelly RisottoTeam J.A.C.K.
Achievements
$10,000 Raised
Raised the amount of money defined for this milestone
Personal Progress:
of Goal
$14,776
Raised
$15,000.00
Fundraising Honor Roll
Land Use Ecological Services, Inc.
$1,000
Ken Cohen
$500
Largavista Companies
$500
John Armentano
$500
Jacqueline A Holmes
$500
Steven E Smith
$500
Jason T. Roff
$500
Henry Uihlein
$500
Elizabeth, Cory, Brady & Cooper
$500
Antonios Vournou
$500
kevin burke
$500
Suzy Goldhirsch
Matthew K Aylward
Justin Stevens
$250
Mark Bonilla
$250
Craig Padover
$250
Company Hampton Marine Inc
$250
Brit Rose
$250
Mamak family
$250
Company Northcoast Civil
$250
Doug Halsey
The Meluso Family
$250
Company Riley Excavating & Contracting Inc.
$250
Vincent & Carmelina Calvosa
$250
Stephen Capitano
$250
shasho pole
$200
Company Chesterfield Associates Inc
$200
Northcoast Civil L.S. & P.E.
$200
R Scott Bromley
$200
Julia Priolo
$154
Mr. John W Lund
$150
DeVito Family
$150
Company Avid Architecture PLLC
$125
Facebook Fundraiser
$102
Facebook Fundraiser
$102
Mario & Georgine Posillico
$100
Patricia & James Murphy
$100
Marcella Boelhouwer
$100
Lynn Trupiano-okeefe
$100
Richard & Kathie Remmer
$100
Company Mill Creek Marina Inc
$100
Mr. Jeffrey D. Forchelli Esq.
$100
Mike and Kathy Glowka
Facebook Fundraiser
$100
Company Stachnik Marina LTD
$100
Brandt Marine Inc.-Robert Brandt
$100
Bryan DeLuca
$100
Anonymous
Mike Keffer
$100
Jennifer Sagerman
$100
Jennifer Leeds
$100
Martha Weller
$100
Janet Hurley
$100
JM2 Architecture, DPC
$100
Freddy Katz
$100
Port of Egypt
$100
Karen Frome
$100
Greg Papazian
Cathy Argentieri
$100
Anonymous
$100
Mark, Corine and Joseph Troiano
$100
Anonymous
$100
Facebook Fundraiser
$100
Mom and Dad
Facebook Fundraiser
$75
Facebook Fundraiser
$75
Facebook Fundraiser
$51
Facebook Fundraiser
$51
Facebook Fundraiser
$51
Facebook Fundraiser
$51
Katie Fox
$51
Facebook Fundraiser
$50
Lisa Cassese
$50
Anonymous
$50
David Diamond
$50
Nicole Sinko
$50
Facebook Fundraiser
$26
Facebook Fundraiser
$26
Facebook Fundraiser
$25