M ary Ellis Luper has a passion for people, for teaching and for making a difference in the world. A longtime elementary school teacher, Mary’s passions helped lead to her being named the Guilford County Schools’ 2002-03 Teacher of the Year. Forced by ALS to leave the classroom after she was diag- nosed with the disease in 2014, Mary has since channeled her passion for helping others into a fight against the disease that has claimed the lives of her grand- mother, mother and brother. “I’m trying to do all I can to get the word out about ALS and help people,” Mary said. “It costs millions upon millions to do research. ALS affects people of all ages – not just older individu- als – so it’s so crucial to educate the public and try to raise funds for research.” Mary goes about helping others in a variety of ways. She has spoken with many groups about ALS and, for the past two years, has organized ALSapalooza, a music festival to raise money and awareness to fight the disease. Mary has trav- eled to Washington, D.C., three times to share her story and educate Members of Congress as part of the National ALS Advocacy Day. Mary has actively participated in the Greensboro Walk to 4 Compassionate Care and Support Board of Directors Mark Anthony, Chairman of the Board Senior Vice President - Wealth Management, Merrill Lynch Greenville, N.C. Sue Gorman, MBA, Vice Chair Principal Designer Sue Gorman Interior Designs Charlotte, N.C. Ed Ketchie, Treasurer V.P. Mid Atlantic Zacks Investment Management Raleigh, N.C. Denise Kirkland, Secretary Adult ESL Instructor Wake Tech Community College Raleigh, N.C. Gray Angell Healthcare Manager/Real Estate Developer Bermuda Village/Blue Ridge Health Investors Bermuda Run, N.C. Jana Antos Regional Director Cincinnati Insurance Companies Raleigh, N.C. Kathleen Boyce, MA Director of Development Girls on the Run of Gaston County Belmont, N.C. Lee Comer Owner Fresh.Local.Good.Foodgroup Greensboro, N.C. Kathryn Foster, RN, MSN Director Cone Family Medicine Center and Cone Community Health & Wellness Center Greensboro, N.C. Mary Ellis Luper Retired Educator Guilford County Schools Former caregiver/currently living with familial ALS Liberty, N.C. Leslie Mastranunzio Owner 9Round 30 Minute Kickboxing Fitness Charlotte, N.C. Douglas Noreen, JD Owner Howard, Stallings, From, Atkins, Angell & Davis, P.A. Apex, N.C. Ross Sloan Relationship Manager, Middle Market TD Bank Fairview, N.C. Tommy Harrell Honorary Board Member Hertford, N.C. Mrs. Jim “Catfish” (Helen) Hunter Honorary Board Member Hertford, N.C. June Thompson Honorary Board Member, Chapter Founder Apex, N.C. Defeat ALS® for the past three years, with her Walk teams raising more than $54,000 since 2015. She serves as a North- east ALS (NEALS) Consortium Research Ambassador, and joined The ALS Association North Carolina Chapter Board of Directors in 2016. “I have a strong passion to help in every way possible to support The ALS Association in their endeavors including research, public awareness, advocacy and helping pALS (people living with ALS) and their families gain the support and care they need,” Mary said. When Mary talks about the devastation of the disease that has stricken her and three fam- ily members, she unfailingly talks about its impact on others in the community. She talks of friends with ALS who have young kids, and she talks of the impact the disease has on loved ones. For others even more than herself, she is determined to do all she can to end this disease. “Since I have been incredibly blessed with slow progression, my goal is to spend my free time trying to do everything I pos- sibly can to educate people about ALS, be an advocate, raise funds for ALS and do all I can with research to help one day cure this disease.” Mary Ellis Luper (right) joined the NC Chapter Board of Directors in 2016.