Our beloved father/brother/uncle/friend - Francis, lost his 4-year battle to ALS on May 25 of this year. We walk to honor the memory of this amazing man who touched so many of our lives.
Our Story
Our family received the news in November 2016 that no one wants to ever be the recipient of: our father was diagnosed with ALS. 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.
We were devastated. We didn’t know how to process such a diagnosis, who to tell or to turn to for help. In stepped our local case worker for the Northern Ohio Chapter of the ALS Association. She came to our house and sat down with us, provided us with information and support we desperately needed. The chapter opened the doors of their lending closet to us when our father had trouble getting around on his own and loaned us a scooter. It was because of their continued support through our ALS journey that our family was able to support our father during this challenging time.
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.
We appreciate your efforts in helping us reach our fundraising goal.
