Thanks for a Life-Changing Year

The time to change the guard is upon us, and we’d like to reflect on what an honor and privilege it’s been to serve as co-chairpersons of MDA’s ALS Division over the past year and a half.

From the beginning of our service in late 2002, it’s been our mission to bring greater awareness of ALS, raise funds for MDA’s research program, and provide help and hope to those affected by this terrible disease.

Highlights

We taped three videos to be distributed to families newly facing ALS and introduce them to the benefits of participating in a MDA support group. We taped a television public service announcement that’s been aired nationally for a year.

Early in 2003, we spoke at a national conference of MDA’s Health Care Service Coordinators. We were able to convey what a powerful impact they can have on the fragile families they deal with.

In the summer, we gave the patient and advocate side at a conference of dedicated doctors, clinicians and biostatisticians who are working hard to find treatments or cures for ALS.

We were honored to be on the cover of Parade magazine’s Labor Day weekend issue and to help draw viewers to the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon. To this day we receive positive correspondence from the impact of that article.

On the Telethon, we shared our ALS story with the millions of people watching.

Our monthly articles in this newsletter have been intended to give readers some thought-provoking ideas about dealing with ALS and assure them they aren’t alone.

Continuing to Serve

We’ll continue, whenever and wherever possible, to spread the word about ALS, raise funds for research, and provide help and hope. These objectives are the basis for our “new life with ALS.”

We’d like to thank everyone who’s helping in the fight against ALS, whether personally, publicly, financially or through research. This disease can deteriorate our bodies but it can’t take our spirits.

Our opportunity to serve the Muscular Dystrophy Association gave us purpose when this insidious disease had stripped it away. We hope we’ve made a difference and, when the cure is found, we’ll know we had a part in it.

We’d especially like to thank Jerry Lewis, MDA National Chairman, humanitarian and friend. All year round he selflessly gives of himself to his “kids,” including a 38-year-old man who will forever be changed by Jerry’s unconditional love and passion for life.