My dad was diagnosed with ALS in 2016 at the age of 61, and died in 2018. It devastated our family. ALS is a cruel, unrelenting disease that, little by little, strips everything away from a person.There is no cure. It is a death sentence.
Soon after his diagnosis, we watched the documentary, Gleason. It's the story of NFL football player (New Orleans Saints) Steve Gleason and his early journey with being diagnosed with ALS. It was the first real look into what heart-break laid ahead for my dad and all of us who loved him so much.
I just love the heart and grittiness behind Team Gleason and their mission.They give ability, dignity, and adventure back to those living with ALS and their caregivers.
If you want to learn more, visit Team Gleason.
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After I had kids, I couldn't imagine a more worthy cause than supporting kid-causes. It had been on my heart for a while. Then I hired a beautiful woman named Nicole to help me pack orders. The heartbreak her family experienced gave me the final "push" to shift my giving to split between an ALS-related cause, and a kiddo-related cause.
HopeKids provides ongoing events, activities, and a powerful, unique support community for families who have a child with cancer or some other life-threatening medical condition. We surround these remarkable children and their families with the message that hope is a powerful medicine.
If you want to learn more, visit HopeKids.
I love that these 2 organizations provide HOPE to those going through the impossible. Cures are incredibly important, and in the meantime, there are so many families who need hope and joy during the most devastating time of their lives.
