Peace and blessings to all.  Please be grateful for your lucky stars.

WHY I WALK

Thank you for helping me reach my Walk to Defeat ALS® fundraising goal! The Walk to Defeat ALS® is very important to me, as it raises funds to support those affected by ALS and to spread awareness of the urgency to find effective treatments and cures.

Many people do not know about ALS until they know someone who has been diagnosed with this horrible disease. Please help to strike out ALS! There is no known cure.

In my case, I first learned about ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) growing up a Mickey Mantle and NY Yankee fan. I watched the movie “Pride of the Yankees.” Then in my professional career I heard a lot about Stephen Hawking. He used to lecture at Caltech almost every year until his death. At JPL, two of my colleagues were diagnosed and succumbed to ALS. I’ve been so moved by these experiences that when I updated my trust and will in 2020, I included the Golden West Chapter as a beneficiary.

And then in May 2020, my great friend called me with the most challenging news. He had “ALS birthday 3” this year. He is so caring and loving and optimistic and supportive and really everything good. He has a wonderful family who wholeheartedly support him.

Please consider my humble request and help to discover better treatments and cures. The reality is, we are all at risk for this diagnosis, our best bet is to invest in the most promising science today.

Please read on.

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, and presently there is no known cause or cure.

A person with ALS becomes physically locked-in as the disease progressively paralyzes the body. The key to UNLOCK ALS begins with us.

Please consider walking with me or sponsoring me. With your help, we will be able to make a difference in the lives of people affected by this disease. Click or tap on VIEW MY TEAM above to join, or on DONATE to make a gift today.

The past few years have brought incredible advancements in ALS research, expanded access to care for people living with ALS, and enabled legislation that impacts the quality of life of people with ALS and their families. We can't stop now! It is only together that we will defeat ALS!