At the onset of being told that I had ALS, I made a conscious decision to meet it head on and do what I could to help find a cause, treatment or cure. Although I was excluded from drug trials after 2004, I still wanted to help in some way. Since getting involved with the Golden West Chapter, my fundraising efforts have exceeded $500,000. I am currently on the Napa Valley Ride Committee and I am an ALS Champion. I will continue my efforts in the fight!
An amazing group of people came together for Climb to Defeat ALS. The first Team Challenge ALS team summited Mt. Elbert in Colorado and has raised over $65,000 for The ALS Association.
Karl Schachtner, featured in this video, was diagnosed with ALS in 2016. He summited the mountain as part of Team Challenge ALS and inspired everyone he encountered on the Climb.
Since an ALS diagnosis in 2017 forced his early retirement from Apple, Steve Kowalski has made ALS his full-time job. In 2018, Steve's former colleagues formed a team for the annual Massachusetts Ride to Defeat ALS ® event in Steve's honor. They have since raised more than $220,000 in support of Steve and our mission; to discover effective treatments and a cure for ALS, and to serve, advocate for, and empower people affected by ALS to live their lives to the fullest.
Avid runners, Elizabeth and Brooke took part in the 126th Boston Marathon in memory of their friend's beloved mother, Cheryl Alderman, who was a ray of sunshine to everyone she crossed paths with. The ALS Association Massachusetts Chapter played an instrumental role in Cheryl and her family's fight against ALS. That is why they continue to celebrate and remember Cheryl by raising funds to help relieve those living with ALS and their families battling this devastating disease.
In October 2021, Deb Grover's best friend, Lisa, was diagnosed with ALS. As an avid cyclist, Lisa had just completed a 100-mile ride from Massachusetts to Maine the month prior. In response to her diagnosis, Deb rallied their gym, The Movement Workshop, to create a team for the 2022 Massachusetts Ride to Defeat ALS®. In June, the team hosted a fundraiser at a local brewery, featuring an amazing band, food, wine, and endless support for Lisa. With over $8,500 raised to date, it is easy to see that Lisa is loved and supported by so many in her cycling community.
Steve Greer is an active ALS chapter board member and person living with ALS. He joined the board of directors of The ALS Association DC/MD/VA Chapter in March 2021 to help those battling ALS fight today for their tomorrow. In 2021, Steve had a vision of bringing a Ride to Defeat ALS® event to the area.
If you are interested in becoming a champion for ALS, please email your National Signature Events liaison at [email protected].
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