Cities in Schools Aurora 2000 Inc

Help support an Aurora family in their fight against ALS!

Joshua Rogers is 18 years old and living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. Diagnosed at just 16, Joshua is one of the youngest people struck by this nervous system disease, which more commonly affects the middle aged and is ultimately fatal within 10 years for most sufferers.

A former basketball player, Joshua is now relies on leg braces and a wheelchair as the disease causes his nerves to slowly cease functioning.

ALS can be an incredibly expensive disease to manage. The average family spends more than $60,000 in medical and non-medical support services and lost wages.

Our $5,000 goal will help ease some of the burden on Joshua's family, allowing them to purchase the necessities that will make Joshua feel stronger, healthier and more comfortable, including:

Medications

Exercise equipment to strengthen Joshua's muscles, which rapidly deteriorate as a result of his weakened nerves.

Protein shakes to help prevent wasting and maintain good nutrition and a healthy body weight. ALS is nearly always fatal, but good nutrition and weight can improve the odds of survival.

Transportation to doctors' appointments

If you took part in the Ice Bucket Challenge, you contributed to the critical research that may someday save the lives of Joshua and the thousands of others like him living with this debilitating and fatal illness. Now, go one step further and commit to improving the life of one young man in our community.

JOSHUA ROGERS COMMUNITY FUNDRAISER EVENT
Saturday, September 6, 2014
4:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Luigi’s Pizza & Fun Center
732 Prairie Street
Aurora, IL 60506

ALL YOU CAN EAT PIZZA & POP
$25 adults / $10 children
Donate online or at the door.

Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner will have his head shaved to raise money for two young students he recently met who are in dire need of medical care.

Calling it the Mayor's "Shave for the Students" campaign, the shaving will take place during a public event at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, May 15, at Two Brothers Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway Ave., Aurora.

Money raised during the campaign will go toward helping defray medical costs for the families of a 15 year old boy and 19 year old girl.

The young man is stricken with Crohn's Disease. He and his single mother must travel into Chicago for his treatments. However, the family is without a car of their own, meaning they must rely on the generosity of friends or public transportation to make the weekly trek. Money raised through "Shave for the Students" will go toward gas cards, vouchers, and other needed items to help defray transportation costs.

The young girl has Rett Syndrome, which is treatable by prescriptions. However, she has aged out of the program that had been covering the costs of the medication forcing her family to pay for the medication out-of-pocket.

"Our children mean a lot to me and to all of us. My goal is to make sure that these two families can be assisted in a meaningful and quick way and Aurora has always stepped up to help our kids in need," said Mayor Weisner.

Mayor Weisner is asking the Aurora community to help him assist the families and ease their medical burdens. Through May 19, donations are being accepted at www.gofundme.com/HelpAuroraStudents. In addition to shaving his head, the Mayor will match a percentage of the total donatio