Because you can

What has been taking up my time lately? Where have I been? To fully answer these questions would take several posts, but I will touch on one- the one that's most important to me after my family.

Eight years ago, my mom founded the MidSouth ALS Association Chapter. Her goal? That no one had to hear the dreadful diagnosis of Lou Gehrig's Disease and not have any available help, as was her situation.

Patient services- that's always been our main focus. That was Mom's dream eight years ago, and that is our goal today. Sure, we give money to cutting-edge research and we have to spend a little on administration, but 80% of all the money we raise goes to bed-side care, equipment and one-on-one support for PALS (people with ALS) caregivers, and families.

I didn't have any idea how passionate I am about eradicating this horrible disease and helping those people who are so in need of it. I thought I was only passionate about stopping ALS for MY mom's sake. While I was her caregiver, I didn't even go to any ALSA meetings because I was surrounded by the disease 24 hours a day, and didn't feel I could handle any more of it. After she passed away almost 2 years ago, I had an immediate change of heart. I wanted to fight! With that in mind, I volunteered to Co-Chair our annual fund-raiser, the Walk to Defeat ALS.

If you never had the great blessing of meeting Mom, let me tell you that the quiet courage, faith and strength that she had throughout her very long battle with ALS is the same that I have seen in all of our other PALS.

It will break your heart to see a 65 year-old man lifting the nearly-lifeless body of his 35 year-old daughter into a van, while her 6 year-old son watches. It will warm your heart to see PALS meeting each other and encouraging one another, even if most of them have lost the ability to speak.

The Walk should prove to be a great success, though my personal Team, Anne's Walkers isn't doing nearly as well with fund-raising as in years past. As always, we will have tons of children's activities- face painting, balloon animals, Moon Bounce, play ground, mascots running amok!

I love seeing the vibrant colors of the red and white tents, balloons and t-shirts. I remember having our first Walk meeting at our house eight years ago, and Mom laying out her instructions for us. I use the term "instructions" because she did not just have ideas- she had marching orders for us, and, eight years later, her vision is still the framework for every Walk! (yes, Mom- we still have the balloon arch for the "Start" line!)

The tag line for the Walk to Defeat ALS is "Because you can." Simple. Straightforward. Love it.

If you don't know about ALS, check out this site or this one. If you are interested in joining with us as we raise funds to help people in great need, click here to sign up for the Memphis Walk! (over 160 Walks are held around the country each year, but the money we raise stays right here in TN)

Be thankful for something today that we are rarely thankful for, but we should always be mindful of: your health. your ability to walk. your ability to talk. your ability to brush your teeth and use the bathroom without assistance. your ability to hug and kiss those you love.