Rich Carlson ALS Benefit Fund for Medical Expenses
Donation protected
In late November of 2018, after a series of symptoms of weakness in his arms and hand tremors, Rik was diagnosed with ALS - Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord.
Rik was diagnosed with ALS one year ago. It is such a horrific disease. We would love to say that there is a cure for ALS. Unfortunately, as we a all know that there is no cure for ALS. Rik is doing well right now but is progressing slowly with weakness in his upper body and he is having great difficulty lifting and moving his arms. He needs help with very basic needs such as bathing and dressing himself. But we are all staying positive, that he will be one of those miracles that will continue to fight and show his resilience.
So we are asking for all our friends and families and others to come together to help them out with raising as much as we can to help with medical bills, medical necessities that come along with this disease and anything else that comes along.
Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their demise. When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, people may lose the ability to speak, eat, move and breathe. The motor nerves that are affected when you have ALS are the motor neurons that provide voluntary movements and muscle control.
Rik was born in Chicago Oct of 65. He is the baby to an older sister and brother. He truly remembers every street his family lived on and all of their neighbors through the years. …Although he still pretends to not know where the coffee cups and silverware are. J
Rik's family moved to Bolingbrook in 1973. Rik, his Mom Dianne and brother moved to Woodridge after his junior year at Bolingbrook HS. He graduated in 1984 from Downers South. He has always felt blessed to be invited to both Bolingbrook and Downers Grove South reunions.
Rik met Michelle in 1987 passing through the McDonalds drive thru. J At that time he owned a small landscaping and concrete business. He came through on a cold December evening with his snowplow, and according to Michelle... flashed his ridiculously cute bad boy smile and hence their story began.
Rik and Michelle were married on June 18 1988 and started their family in Sept of 1992. They have three boys, 2 ½ daughter in-laws J and so far 2 beautiful grandchildren…
Rik and Michelle’s sons are- Erik, Rikky and Nickolas. Erik, Nickolas and Nik’s Wife Kourtney are in the United States Air Force, Rikky, a Salesman at Fair Oaks Ford and Lincoln in Naperville.
Rik had had his CDL for years and through several of them, drove over the road, sold cars and trucks. He became an Owner Operator for a tanker company in late 2003. Rik had always had motorcycles and dreamed of owning a Harley.
One Sunday on their way home from Church, “The Carlson Five” stopped to look at a beautiful Harley Davidson red Sportster. Once Michelle got on it, in church dress and all, they both decided this would be the first one. Rik became a member of Rolling Thunder in 2003 but with his Trucker - Traveling Schedule and their 3 young boys, he knew he couldn't appropriately put each responsibility where it belonged and make the required meetings to Rolling Thunder. He left Rolling Thunder knowing a motorcycle club was something he would make time for again someday. Rik and Michelle sold the Sportster for a brand new Fatboy in 2005. Michelle told him from day one, get it exactly how you want it....We have 3 boys to raise so make it a beauty because no new money is going into it. Lol. Michelle tried . Riding and new friends became a hobby and was something Rik tried to do whenever possible.
Rik knew he wanted a cruiser so when his 50th birthday came along Big Red his Ultra Classic joined the family. Through a series of parties and gatherings at the American Lawmen Motorcycle Club Danny Soto introduced Rik to the club. He knew very early on he wanted to be part of American Lawmen and wanted American Lawman to be part of him.
Rik is an active volunteer at our benefits for others and still strives to be as giving as he can
https://www.facebook.com/events/1061023970908115/
ALS has ended Rik’s truck driving and truck sales careers and unfortunately he is no longer able to ride or be as active as he once was
Please consider this cause
Rik was diagnosed with ALS one year ago. It is such a horrific disease. We would love to say that there is a cure for ALS. Unfortunately, as we a all know that there is no cure for ALS. Rik is doing well right now but is progressing slowly with weakness in his upper body and he is having great difficulty lifting and moving his arms. He needs help with very basic needs such as bathing and dressing himself. But we are all staying positive, that he will be one of those miracles that will continue to fight and show his resilience.
So we are asking for all our friends and families and others to come together to help them out with raising as much as we can to help with medical bills, medical necessities that come along with this disease and anything else that comes along.
Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their demise. When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, people may lose the ability to speak, eat, move and breathe. The motor nerves that are affected when you have ALS are the motor neurons that provide voluntary movements and muscle control.
Rik was born in Chicago Oct of 65. He is the baby to an older sister and brother. He truly remembers every street his family lived on and all of their neighbors through the years. …Although he still pretends to not know where the coffee cups and silverware are. J
Rik's family moved to Bolingbrook in 1973. Rik, his Mom Dianne and brother moved to Woodridge after his junior year at Bolingbrook HS. He graduated in 1984 from Downers South. He has always felt blessed to be invited to both Bolingbrook and Downers Grove South reunions.
Rik met Michelle in 1987 passing through the McDonalds drive thru. J At that time he owned a small landscaping and concrete business. He came through on a cold December evening with his snowplow, and according to Michelle... flashed his ridiculously cute bad boy smile and hence their story began.
Rik and Michelle were married on June 18 1988 and started their family in Sept of 1992. They have three boys, 2 ½ daughter in-laws J and so far 2 beautiful grandchildren…
Rik and Michelle’s sons are- Erik, Rikky and Nickolas. Erik, Nickolas and Nik’s Wife Kourtney are in the United States Air Force, Rikky, a Salesman at Fair Oaks Ford and Lincoln in Naperville.
Rik had had his CDL for years and through several of them, drove over the road, sold cars and trucks. He became an Owner Operator for a tanker company in late 2003. Rik had always had motorcycles and dreamed of owning a Harley.
One Sunday on their way home from Church, “The Carlson Five” stopped to look at a beautiful Harley Davidson red Sportster. Once Michelle got on it, in church dress and all, they both decided this would be the first one. Rik became a member of Rolling Thunder in 2003 but with his Trucker - Traveling Schedule and their 3 young boys, he knew he couldn't appropriately put each responsibility where it belonged and make the required meetings to Rolling Thunder. He left Rolling Thunder knowing a motorcycle club was something he would make time for again someday. Rik and Michelle sold the Sportster for a brand new Fatboy in 2005. Michelle told him from day one, get it exactly how you want it....We have 3 boys to raise so make it a beauty because no new money is going into it. Lol. Michelle tried . Riding and new friends became a hobby and was something Rik tried to do whenever possible.
Rik knew he wanted a cruiser so when his 50th birthday came along Big Red his Ultra Classic joined the family. Through a series of parties and gatherings at the American Lawmen Motorcycle Club Danny Soto introduced Rik to the club. He knew very early on he wanted to be part of American Lawmen and wanted American Lawman to be part of him.
Rik is an active volunteer at our benefits for others and still strives to be as giving as he can
https://www.facebook.com/events/1061023970908115/
ALS has ended Rik’s truck driving and truck sales careers and unfortunately he is no longer able to ride or be as active as he once was
Please consider this cause
Fundraising team: ALMC Brotherhood (4)
Michael Spangler
Organizer
Chicago, IL
Joseph Maas
Team member
Kelly Patrick
Team member
Tara Parizek Patrick
Team member
