This fall, I'm running the New York City Marathon with Team ALS in memory of my grandfather, Jack "JG" Seese. JG passed away from ALS in 2005, but what I remember most isn't the disease, it's the way he met it. He faced ALS with the same big heart and sense of humor he'd always had. His laugh was infectious, his kindness was constant, and his positivity carried our whole family. I'm proud to run in his memory and put that same spirit toward the fight against ALS.

Fighting ALS has been close to my family for two decades now. After JG passed, we came together around the cause, taking part in the Walk to Defeat ALS and hosting our own annual fundraiser for ALS United in his memory, and this past year we raised our highest total ever!

Being able to run this marathon for something this close to home means a great deal to me. I'm honored to dedicate my training, my miles, and my fundraising to JG and to everyone still fighting this disease.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often called "Lou Gehrig's Disease," is a progressive disease of the nervous system that attacks the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. It gradually takes away a person's ability to move, speak, eat, and eventually breathe. There is still no known cure. A few things worth knowing about how far-reaching this disease is:

• Every 90 minutes, someone is diagnosed with ALS, and someone passes away from it.
• 90% of ALS cases occur with no known family history or genetic cause. The remaining 10% are inherited through a mutated gene linked to the disease.
• 55 is the average age of onset, with most people diagnosed between 40 and 70, though it can strike people in their twenties and thirties.
• ALS is about 20% more common in men than women, though that gap narrows with age.
• Military veterans are twice as likely to be diagnosed with ALS as the general public, for reasons still not understood.

Those numbers are exactly why I'm running, and why I'm asking for your help. I'm proud to be fundraising for ALS United. Every dollar I raise goes directly to where it's needed most: vital research, community support, and patient services for people living with ALS today.

I'm running in JG's memory, and to support the people still battling ALS and the families beside them. Please consider donating and joining me in this fight. Whatever you can give makes a real difference, and my family and I are truly grateful for your support.

In loving memory of Jack "JG" Seese. Together, we can end ALS.