I was asked to write a narrative by the Regional Development Coordinator to be used on social media and the ALS North Texas website and while an emotional undertaking I was happy to do so.

I feel that this pretty much sums up why I walk year after year:

ALS: The diagnosis came after my mom had two surgeries on her back and neck and she determined that her body was not healing as it should. For several months my parents searched for answers for what was wrong. At first it was believed it was MS, but in May of 1999 my mom received a diagnosis that would change the course of mine and my family's lives. She had ALS. I had absolutely no idea what that meant. I was a college student at the time and that night utilized my library and internet privileges to learn about this disease. I will say this sometimes knowledge is not power. There was basically nothing that could be done for her. No hope whatsoever. It broke my heart. Shortly thereafter my mom was given two weeks to six months to live. She was 53 and did not make it to her 54th birthday. I watched her body destroy itself from the inside out while her mind stayed completely alert. Nine months later we lost her on March 7, 2000. She has been gone over 15 years and I miss her every day.

In 2006 I did some research and found the Walk to Defeat ALS here in the Dallas area. I formed an awesome team and we have walked every year since. This year marks our tenth walk. The most amazing thing about my team is that outside of family not one of them knew my mom. They show up year after year because they care about me. We want to give back. To give others hope for a cure. My prayer is that a cure is found in my lifetime. I walk and raise funds because I don't want another person on this earth to go through what my mom went through and I don't want another family to have to watch it and say goodbye. Walk day is incredible due to the feeling of community and being unified for the same goal. Each team has a story, a connection to this disease and once a year we join together and walk in hopes that ALS will one day truly be defeated.