On Saturday, Oct 26, 2024, I am participating in ALS United North Carolina's Walk ALS Greensboro. My team, Gene Genies, has participated in the ALS Walk since 2015 following my late wife Mary's diagnosis, through her 8-year struggle with the disease and in her honor since her passing in 2021. Last year we also were joined by team member who also lost loved ones to ALS, so we also walk in honor of Merritt Way's late wife Sandy who passed in 2016 and Beth Christina's mother Suzanne Wozniak who passed in 2011.

ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that slowly robs the body of its ability to walk, speak, swallow and breathe. Every 90 minutes, another person in this country is diagnosed with the disease. There is currently NO cure, and that’s just unacceptable. So we need to keep trying until we find a cure and do our best to alleviate suffering in the meantime. That’s why I’ve been involved in Walk ALS Greensboro for ten years and recently joined the Board of Directors of ALS United North Carolina.

Each year, Walk ALS United supports over 900 people with ALS throughout the entire state of North Carolina. Speaking from experience, ALS United North Carolina emphasizes patient care by funding specialized medical clinics throughout the state, providing direct grants, maintaining an accessibility equipment loan program and getting patients involved in research studies. In addition, ALS United North Carolina provides research funding with the aim of treating and eventually curing the disease and is involved in governmental advocacy with respect to ALS issues.

Today, I am asking for your help. First, please register for the Walk ALS Greensboro by joining team Gene Genies. The Walk will be at Grasshoppers Stadium in downtown Greensboro on Saturday October 6 at 9am. Second, please donate to this very worthy cause by making a donation yourself and encouraging others to participate and make a donation. Our team fundraising goal is $10,000, and we need your help to achieve it.

If you have any questions, please let me know. I hope to see you on my Walk ALS United Team!