Hi,

My name is Freddy De’Ath (Coach Freddy to all of our GB Soccer families) and I am running the Malibu Half Marathon on November 14th to raise funds to help support Zach and Monica who are some of our amazing GB parents.

Zach suffers from a rare disease called Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. There is no cure for ALS yet and the rate at which ALS progresses can be quite variable from one person to another. Although the mean survival time with ALS is two to five years, some people live five, 10 or more years.

I have coached Zach and Monica’s daughter Avonlea for around 2 years now and Avonlea and her little sister are the cutest kids ever. After seeing this beautiful family at my classes I noticed Avonlea’s dad slowly needing more support and one day built up the courage to ask a little bit more about Zach, which inspired me to want to help in any way I can.

As a father of 2 children myself, there was something about seeing their weekly struggles that touched me so much that I felt I needed to do something to help.

I didn’t want to ask what was happening in their family dynamic at the risk of being ‘nosey’ but the kind of person I am really wanted to find out if I can help in any way possible.

In order to give you a better idea of why I’m doing this, please read the information below which comes from Monica. It was really tough for me to even ask her

to do this and I’m sure it was even tougher for her to write it but I know this will give everybody a better understanding of why this is so important.

“ALS is not a disease many know about, but in my opinion it is the worst disease that exists. My husband, Zach, was one of the most positive, kind, talented, vibrant individuals I have ever met. He has graced the screen stunt doubling for Orlando Bloom in Pirates of the Caribbean and for Spider-Man himself.

He was and still is an adoring father to our two sweet little girls 2 and 4yrs. Now ALS has taken almost everything from him. Zach can no longer walk, speak or move his body, but his brain is fully functional. He has described it as feeling “trapped in his own body.” He is no longer able to do anything for himself. We are in need of funds to cover many things such as medical bills, nurses, caretakers the list goes on. While we have a great support system of friends we do not live near any family. ALS has a life expectancy of 2-5 years.We don’t know how much longer he has. But what time he does have, we would like to spend it loving one another and adoring our little ones while getting Zach the proper care he needs. Thank you so very much.”

- Monica Braunger Hudson

Please give anything you can to help and thank you for your support.

Freddy.