"We walk in memory of our son Eric, who died of ALS at age 28 after a 9 year battle with the disease. As an intelligent and very young PALS, Eric understood that he was a powerful Advocate for all suffering with ALS, and could command the attention of our legislators in Washington DC. He made the annual pilgrimage to the ALS Public Policy conference every May from 2005 until 2009, when his failing health prohibited him from making the 14 hour drive to DC. He enjoyed meeting his legislators and asking for their support for bills that are important for all PALS, and appropriations for funding ALS research. But more than that, he loved attending a gathering of hundreds of other people with ALS and their family members, all united in their quest to help find a cure and rid the world of ALS.
"With Eric now gone, his friends and family continue to support the Walk to Defeat ALS every year, which is our Alabama Chapter's largest single source of funds, so that we may honor Eric's memory and his tireless dedication to helping create awareness of ALS on Capitol Hill. We walk for our hero, Eric, whose life was shortened by ALS. We walk so other lives are not."
-Stuart Obermann, Alabama Chapter