Hi friends, family, and kind hearts,

I’m reaching out with a heart that’s both heavy and hopeful. As many of you know, my life changed significantly when I was diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) in early 2025. This disease is relentless, and while I am doing everything I can to stay present for my wife and our kids, the reality is that my physical window of opportunity is closing. The average life expectancy for someone diagnosed with ALS is 3 to 5 years. There's no way to know how long I have. As it progresses I will get to the point where I'm unable to eat (I'll have a feeding tube), I'll be unable to speak, move, or breathe on my own. I'm hoping to take advantage of this window while I still have some physical ability left.

I am fortunate enough to be on Long-Term Disability, and while it helps us cover our daily bills, there are many ongoing costs associated with my medical needs that are not covered. A couple of the large purchases we are faced with are an accessible van, and some home renovations like a curbless shower. In addition to this I'd like to strike a few things off of my bucket list which includes some world travel. This is something I always planned on doing later on and unfortunately for me there is no "later". I've been fortunate to do a few trips since my diagnosis but I don't have the time to build the "lump sum" savings needed for another trip. I'm planning on travelling to New Zealand which isn’t just a vacation destination for us, it’s home to our extended family on both sides. Some of whom we have yet to meet. With your help I'd like to fundraise for this trip and if possible expand the time and/or destinations. We would be taking the kids out of school and Ruth would need to take an unpaid leave of absence.

My goal is to take my children to see their family in NZ and see some of the world with their dad, while I can still walk (a little), speak, eat, and participate in these moments with them. I want to build a "memory bank" for my kids, so that they have stories they can hold onto with photos of us exploring together, long after my body no longer allows it. I'm unsure if I will be able to cast a fly rod by the time I land in NZ but seeing one of the fam catch a New Zealand brown trout would be a real treat!

Traveling with ALS is not a standard trip. To make this a reality, we face significant costs that go beyond a typical flights and hotels. Your support will help us cover renting a wheelchair-accessible van, accessible accommodations, and adaptive experiences. I’ll admit, asking for help is not something I'm good at, I'd much rather lend a hand than accept one. ALS has taught me that pride doesn't create memories, community does.

Please know that every donation is a gift toward my children’s future and our family’s peace of mind. If you aren’t able to donate, simply sharing this link with your own circles means the world to us. Thank you for being part of our story and for helping me give my kids this final adventure with their dad.

With Gratitude,

-Peter