Help the Gibbs Fight ALS!
Background
Hello everyone, my name is Ryan Rust and my friends Brian and Vanessa are in need of your support! My wife and I have known both Brian and Vanessa for many years and have shared trips and a lot of laughter together.
Brian and Vanessa have a house full of activity with their four boys: Rutger (6), Oscar (4), Ernie and Arthur (2). Earlier this year, the Gibbs received heartbreaking news when Vanessa was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). ALS is a progressive nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing loss of muscle control. This eventually affects chewing, swallowing, speaking and breathing. While the rate of progression varies from person-to-person, there is no cure and it is ultimately fatal.
The Goal
We want to help the Gibb family with the significant financial burdens anticipated on the road ahead. These will range from the care needed to help Vanessa as she battles ALS, to help with day-to-day needs they will still have during these difficult times. Since Vanessa will eventually be unable to work, this will grow to be even more challenging.
In the immediate term, some modifications need to be made to the family home so Vanessa can continue to live as comfortably as possible. For example, Vanessa is unable to ascend/descend stairs on her own. Because of this she is often restricted to one floor and is unable to do things like eat meals with her family or go outside with her boys. A local accessibility contractor has given an estimate of $12,000 to install a wheelchair lift that would let her move between floors in their home allowing for more family time and mobility. 
How You Can Help
Please donate and share the link for this campaign on social media, or directly with your friends and family. Even if you are unable to contribute monetarily, getting the word out would be very helpful.
We will continue to share updates on this campaign.
You can make a difference! Thank you so much for your support.
