It's time again for another Cincinnati ALS Walk.  This year due to the pandemic, it's walk your way where you can.  As I've said before, I continue to stay active in helping as many patients and their families as I can.  I attend the support group meetings each month and meet recently diagnosed patients and their families who are just trying to understand this disease.  Even though it progresses differently in each person, we still have the common bond of facing this disease and its effects on the whole family. 

    I am more hopeful than ever that a cure for ALS is on the horizon.  Due to the success of the Ice Bucket Challenge, significant research is being done.  One particular one, Answer ALS, is the single largest effort in the history of the disease.  It will be conducted over a three year period and involve 1,000 patients.

           As I have in years past, I am walking with Team Remember, a "friends and family team", that was started by several members of our support group.  The team was started to make it easier for surviving friends and family to be able to participate in the walk without the effort of coordinating a walk team of their own.  We are all walking in memory of our loved one, and I will be walking in memory of Dave.  We are also encouraging families who are still facing the disease with their loved ones to join our team.

   A large portion of the money raised from this walk goes to our local Central and Southern Ohio chapter. The money is used to support people with ALS and their families.  Dave and I were able to be prepared for the progression of ALS because of the information we received from our support group here in Cincinnati.  We learned this information from speakers, our support group leader, as well as families who were dealing with the disease. We also borrowed a number of items from the loan closet. In fact, I've purchased pivot discs for the chapter's loan closet to help patients.  I found this device invaluable in being able to transfer Dave by myself. We owe so much to our Central and Southern Ohio Chapter of the ALS Association. 

    I realize that there are many worthwhile charities and that it is not possible to donate to all of them.  Because of my passion for our chapter, I am again asking you to consider donating to our walk this year.  I know that you have donated in the past, but I don't want you to feel any obligation to continue donating.  However,I want you to know that any amount you're able to give will be appreciated by our chapter.  I believe that our chapter uses the money wisely, so I want to continue to raise money for them.

     If you wish to make a donation, please click the "Donate to Mary" button on this page, and you will be taken to the donation page where you'll type in your information and be able to put in Dave's name.  Thank you for considering donating.  I appreciate all your support.

                                                                                                                                    Mary