This is the story of Team J.A.C.K. and our reason for walking, Chris. 

In January 2015, Chris started feeling weakness in his left thumb. At first, the doctors thought he had an injury…but as the weakness spread throughout his left hand, and then to his right, we knew it was something else. It wasn’t until June that our worst fears were confirmed with a diagnosis of ALS. On the way home from that appointment, we heard ‘Fight Song’ by Rachel Platten on the radio. We both vowed to stay positive and fight no matter what came our way, to find a way for Chris to live with ALS as long as possible, for him see our children grow up and be together as long as we could. 

As the summer went on, Chris got weaker. Unlike many with ALS, Chris could walk, but he couldn’t hug our children, couldn’t feed himself, couldn’t shower or get dressed without help. Chris was the best man in his brother’s wedding in July, but couldn’t speak well enough to give the toast that he’d started working on in the spring. The disease was attacking him in the worst way, and there was nothing we could do to stop it. 

We took a family trip upstate in August, to my parent’s lakefront property that we all loved. We got Chris into the new pontoon boat for a ride around the lake; it was the happiest I’d seen him in weeks. We took a family selfie, our smiles of pure joy brighter than the sun shining in the background.

Chris was called Home on August 29, 2015, after a brutal battle with ALS that lasted only eight months. He fought as long and hard as he could, in the end making the ultimate sacrifice, choosing our lives over his so that our young children remember the loving, playful, fun daddy that he was. Strength, courage, and devotion to his family, just a few of the reasons Chris was such an amazing husband, father, son, brother, and friend. 

Chris’ fight is over, but mine is not. I vowed to stay positive and fight no matter what happened. I can no longer fight for Chris, but I will continue to fight for the ALS victims of today who can’t hug their children or care for themselves, and for the victims of tomorrow who will be slowly robbed of their ability to move. I’m not alone in this fight – Chris’ sister and I put together Team J.A.C.K., and we are joined each year by dozens of family and friends that help us FIGHT FOR A CURE for ALS. 

Will you join our Team, or put one together for someone you know and love? Maybe it’s a family member, a friend, a coworker. Everyone seems to know someone affected by ALS – who do you know? 

Let’s FIGHT together. I urge you to join a team, to donate to a friend, to participate in events to educate your community about ALS and its devastating effects. Please, do whatever you can to FIGHT FOR A CURE.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, fatal neuromuscular disease that slowly robs the body of its ability to walk, speak, swallow and breathe. The life expectancy of a person with ALS averages 2 to 5 years from the time of diagnosis. ALS can strike anyone regardless of age, gender, nationality, or ethnicity, although it is primarily an adult-onset disease. Currently there is no known cause or cure.

Being a part of ALS United Greater New York’s WALK ALS is the number one way to unite and fundraise for those living with ALS. Please consider supporting my efforts by donating through my fundraising page.

Your donation today will help fund resources and services to the local ALS community, help find new ALS treatments, and move us closer to a world without the disease. 

Please feel free to send this page to any friend or family member who might be interested in donating!

Thank you, on behalf of Team J.A.C.K., for Jacob, Abigail, Chris, and Kelly.