Kathelene's ALStars will be walking to Defeat ALS this year in memory of Kathelene Petersen. This amazing lady passed away August 15th after a courageous five year battle with this awful disease. Thank you for helping us reach our fund raising goal!
Kathelene spent her life serving others by raising six children, loving her grandchildren, teaching special ed, serving in her church and caring for everyone she met. She had the ability to make the person she was talking to feel like the most important person in the world. Mark and Kathelene just celebrated their 54th anniversary and spent the last several year traveling around the world. Kathelene was diagnosed with Bulbar Onset ALS in March 2016. We were all devastated when she received this diagnosis. She first notice symptoms a couple years earlier when she started to lose her voice.
The disease began by robbing Kathelene of the ability to talk and to chew and swallow. She then lost the use of her left hand and arm. ALS then weakened her legs to the point where she was confined to a wheelchair for the last eight months before the cruel disease took her life. And yet, all who knew Kathelene throughout her difficult battle with ALS know that, despite her afflictions and trials, she was still amazing in her ability to lift other;s burdens, gladden hearts and enrich the lives of those she met. She did not let ALS rob her of her beautiful smile, her caring nature, or her sweet, pleasant spirit.
Please show your support for Kathelene and help us raise money to find a cure for this horrible disease.
Why We Need Your Help
Often referred to as Lou Gehrig's Disease, 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 an ALS patient averages 2 to 5 years from the time of diagnosis.
Every 90 minutes a person in this country is diagnosed with ALS and every 90 minutes another person will lose their battle against this disease. ALS occurs throughout the world with no racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic boundaries.
This crippling disease can strike anyone. Presently there is no known cause of the disease yet it still costs loved ones an average of $200,000 a year to provide the care ALS patients need. Help make a difference and donate or join a walk today.
