Dave's Fight Against ALS

We are organizing this fundraiser because of my brother-in-law, Dave Walsh, who is more a brother to us than an in-law. He has been diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Dave, 58, is a husband, father, uncle, cousin, son-in-law, brother-in-law and a friend to so many. ALS is an incurable disease that severely impairs your muscle control. Dave’s symptoms began in early 2019 and he was officially diagnosed in August of 2021. ALS has very aggressively taken over Dave’s life; he is now in a wheelchair with limited use of his body and his speech is slow and deteriorating quickly.

ALS is a very expensive disease. Along with the physical challenges of ALS, come the cost of many things. Renovations had to be made to the first floor of their home, which was not covered by insurance. Insurance covers some of the costs, but does not cover the full cost of the specialized wheelchair needed for ALS or the costs for wheelchair ramps, the handicap accessible vehicle, or the cost for caregivers to provide some relief for Ann Leigh. The list goes on, everyday changes. To date, Dave and Ann Leigh have had to outlay in excess of $100,000 of non-insured funds due to this disease.

Dave now needs 24-hour care. Dave’s wife, Ann Leigh, is his sole caregiver. The cost of a professional caregiver to help just 10 hours per week quickly adds up to about $1,200 per month (i.e., on average about $30/hour). The out-of-pocket expense of getting help for him and Ann Leigh is financially draining.

Estimates on annual healthcare costs for people living with ALS can vary widely depending on the stage of the illness and, in Dave’s and Ann Leigh’s case, a very safe estimate is in the $50,000 to $60,000 range annually based on their experience so far and projections from their ALS medical team. Indirect costs, including lost income, also add to the economic impact of the disease.

A little bit about Dave. Dave and Ann Leigh have been married for 31 years and have two amazing sons, David and Riley. He started his career after college and has been working for the same company for 35+ years. Due to his condition, he just went on disability. ALS forced him to “retire” some seven years earlier than he had planned. He has been dedicated to his family and job whole heartedly and would always be the first to help someone in need. Dave has been a musician, a writer, a natural comedian and has always been an athlete. He has run half and full marathons, completed triathlons, coached his boy’s baseball and hockey teams and my personal favorite…he and Ann Leigh ran a race up New Hampshire’s Mount Washington! His sense of humor has kept us all laughing for years and still does to this day. He is fighting hard to still be Dave, but I see each day getting harder for him.

The future is uncertain moving forward for Dave and his family. With ALS, there is not much we can do for him other than helping to keep his quality of life the best that we can.

Please consider a gift to help Dave and his family continue to fight this disease and get the treatments that he needs. All proceeds from this Go Fund Me will be to help with caregiving and other medical expenses they are incurring. Any gift is greatly appreciated by Dave, Ann Leigh, David and Riley. If you are unable to donate, please share this link with family, friends and any social media. They are so thankful for any of your support.

Sincerely,

Sallie King