On Saturday, September 23rd, I and teammates from SF Triathlon Club, will be participating in the 19th Annual Napa Valley Ride to Defeat ALS. We will ride 100 miles to raise funds for ALS Golden West, an association that provides care services, funds global research, and advocates on behalf of those impacted by this devastating disease.

In 2021, my mother-in-law, Beth began experiencing weakness and loss of function in her hands. She received a definitive ALS diagnosis in early 2022 and lost her fight against ALS in September of 2022.

Throughout her life, Beth cared for those around her: She worked as a nurse, beloved by her patients, for 35 years and after retirement, volunteered with Meals on Wheels to deliver meals to seniors in her community. She only gave up her service after she could no longer drive to deliver meals due to ALS. I miss her caring warmth and incredible sense of humor.

I am riding to honor Beth and to support efforts to find a cure for ALS. We ride to help provide care services for those currently living with ALS and help their caregivers. We ride to keep hope that one day ALS will be a disease of the past.

If you would like to donate to this important cause, please visit http://secure.alsagoldenwest.org/goto/MirellaNiskala

Much love and appreciation,

Mirella

What is 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. 

Why We Need Your Help

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.

The average life expectancy of an ALS patient is two to five years from the time of diagnosis.

ALS can strike anyone. Presently there is no known cause of the disease.

Caring for a loved one with ALS costs on average of $200,000 each year.