Joe Citari
Donation protected
This year at the age of 57, my baby brother was diagnosed with ALS. Our family and friends are devastated.
ALS is a progressive nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing loss of muscle control. It is often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease after the baseball player who was diagnosed with it in 1939. Over a two to five year time span, the body gradually becomes paralyzed.
Joe is the local kid from Oak Park, IL who made it big and got drafted to the Kansas City Royals after high school. He quickly made his way up to AAA ball which is a notch below the major leagues. Joe left professional baseball when our Dad was diagnosed with a glioblastoma to help him run his lighting business and take care of our mom. He continued to run that lighting business as well as further his journey with his favorite sport through coaching. He proudly was a part of the Oak Park American Legion, Wheaton College, Downers Grove Dragons, White Sox Academy, Illinois Crush and the DuPage Hounds organization. This was all while working full time. Baseball is his life and he feel’s lucky to have impact so many students throughout his years of teaching.
Joe is at the point where he can no longer work due to his current physical condition. More than anything, he wants to be with his family and maximize what time he has left. Joey, 20, is attending College of DuPage and applying to Kettering University next year to study mechanical engineering. Katie, 18, is a freshman at The Ohio State University studying chemical engineering. Both kids are currently doing remote learning and living at home to spend time with their dad.
Unfortunately, his medical and living expenses are mounting. With no health care, RUSH hospital system has been temporarily helping him with receiving a diagnosis and some medical care.
There is no cure for ALS; only supportive care. ALS.org helps as much as they can through fundraisers and raising awareness. Ironically, Joe participated in the popular ALS Ice Bucket Challenge a few years back, which raised funds for new drug trials and furthering research on the disease.
Please help with anything you can. No amount is too small and even sharing this page will help.
Thank you
Ice Bucket Challenge:
https://www.facebook.com/Illinoiscrushbaseball/videos/276041995935744/?vh=e&extid=rDvTEJ1Re6TEOXnn&d=n
ALS is a progressive nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing loss of muscle control. It is often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease after the baseball player who was diagnosed with it in 1939. Over a two to five year time span, the body gradually becomes paralyzed.
Joe is the local kid from Oak Park, IL who made it big and got drafted to the Kansas City Royals after high school. He quickly made his way up to AAA ball which is a notch below the major leagues. Joe left professional baseball when our Dad was diagnosed with a glioblastoma to help him run his lighting business and take care of our mom. He continued to run that lighting business as well as further his journey with his favorite sport through coaching. He proudly was a part of the Oak Park American Legion, Wheaton College, Downers Grove Dragons, White Sox Academy, Illinois Crush and the DuPage Hounds organization. This was all while working full time. Baseball is his life and he feel’s lucky to have impact so many students throughout his years of teaching.
Joe is at the point where he can no longer work due to his current physical condition. More than anything, he wants to be with his family and maximize what time he has left. Joey, 20, is attending College of DuPage and applying to Kettering University next year to study mechanical engineering. Katie, 18, is a freshman at The Ohio State University studying chemical engineering. Both kids are currently doing remote learning and living at home to spend time with their dad.
Unfortunately, his medical and living expenses are mounting. With no health care, RUSH hospital system has been temporarily helping him with receiving a diagnosis and some medical care.
There is no cure for ALS; only supportive care. ALS.org helps as much as they can through fundraisers and raising awareness. Ironically, Joe participated in the popular ALS Ice Bucket Challenge a few years back, which raised funds for new drug trials and furthering research on the disease.
Please help with anything you can. No amount is too small and even sharing this page will help.
Thank you
Ice Bucket Challenge:
https://www.facebook.com/Illinoiscrushbaseball/videos/276041995935744/?vh=e&extid=rDvTEJ1Re6TEOXnn&d=n
Fundraising team (3)
Theresa Sittler
Organizer
Downers Grove, IL
Joseph Citari
Beneficiary
Alicia Citari
Team member
Jayne Citari
Team member
