On April 26, 2026, I will be pushing my physical limits and running The Brooklyn Experience Half Marathon with Team ALS in memory of FOUR people whose lives were taken by ALS. This run is deeply personal, especially in memory of my dad.

MARTIN STENZLER

My dad, Marty, was my hero.

He was fun, kind, and endlessly loving, the kind of person everyone gravitated toward. He was my biggest cheerleader in everything I did. From the moment my phone was connected in my college dorm, he called me every single day just to say, “Hi Abber” That never stopped… until ALS stole his voice in 2012.

He adored his family. He loved my brother Jon and me fiercely, came to every game we played, knew all of our friends, and made it home for family dinner every night. He was so proud of his three beautiful granddaughters and absolutely lit up when he was with them. He gave us a life full of love, laughter, and stability, and I am forever grateful.

ALS took my dad from us on August 10, 2012. He was 74 years old. Not a day goes by that I don’t miss him and wish my phone would ring and he would be on the other end.

NINA CHAZIN WILCOX

I met Nina at summer camp when we were 8.  Coincidently, she married a friend of mine from high school, John.  They were college sweethearts.  Nina lost her battle with ALS on November 8, 2025, at the age of 55.  I will run ​in her memory.

THOMAS LIPPMANN

Tom was a beloved neighbor and dear family friend. As a kid, our families spent February breaks together in Florida—deep-sea fishing, long beach days, and laughing. 

Tom lost his life to ALS on September 5, 2003, at the age of 65. I will run in his memory.

HERB HIPP

My close friend Tom lost his father, Herb, to ALS on November 7, 2009, at the age of 75. Last May, I had the honor of walking with Tom and his family representing the team, Herb's Hustlers at the ALS Walk in NYC, a powerful reminder of how many families this disease continues to impact.  I will run in his memory.

I am running for my dad.​  I am running for Nina, Tom, and Herb.​  And I am running for every family still waiting for answers.

Please consider making a donation in their memory. Your support helps fund critical research, care services, and hope for a future without ALS. Together, we can make a difference, and one day, help ensure that no family has to endure this devastating disease.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your generosity and support. 

xoxo,

Abby

• 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.