Main fundraiser photo

Rick Burgess - Fight ALS

Donation protected
As many of you know my Dad, Rick Burgess was diagnosed with ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease in January of 2017

In a short amount of time (5 months) his health has decreased significantly. He can no longer hold his head up on his own, he is unable to dress himself, unable to feed himself,  and soon he won't be able to walk - as he can only walk about a block before he is completely exhausted.

At his last Dr appointment at Virginia Mason, we learned his lung capacity decreased to 37%, we had to order a wheelchair for him because they suspect he has a very short time left of walking. We have started the process of voice banking - recording Dad's voice because soon he won't be able to talk. 

Because of Dad's diagnoses, it has put a ton of financial pressure on him and his new wife. He is no longer able to do much for work. He owns a business that he was doing everything from start to finish to fulfill orders but with the inability to use his hands, arms, and move around, he is left with not being able to do much to earn an income.

Dad, a man that has worked and built many businesses' over the course of his life, will soon not be able to work, at the same time, his wife Maria, will stop working to stay home to take care of him full-time. A man that has closely done it all will soon not be able to do much of anything. In the course of his life, he's raised 6 children and recently added two new kids to his pack when he remarried in 2014. He has taken these kids in as his own, even bringing the youngest to America to offer her a college education and better life. 

Dad would never say this but to fully grasp what he has accomplished as well as all that has been taken, it needs to be said. At one time Dad was putting 3 kids in college, in 3 separate states. His businesses were booming and he found ways to continually invest in his family, his community, and causes across the world (Mission trips, volunteering his time and talents etc). 

In 2007, the Great Recession hit, and like many families, it hit our family hard. Dad lost all but one business and both of his homes. To fight all he was losing he took his retirement and any money left over and invested back into a business he was desperately trying to keep in our family. Unsuccessfully, he closed the doors of this business -- one that he had for well over 30 years.

I think we all wondered if we would lose him with so much of the devastation that occurred in those years, but Dad again, like always, found a way to get back up. He humbly minimized his entire life and learned to live off of next to nothing. He now rents a small apartment above his last small business in Aberdeen, WA. I know this man will be working until he doesn't have a choice.

In this time the family has #cometogether to let you, Dad, know, what you can't do, we will do whatever it takes to do it for you. We want your last few years with us, to be the best yet.

His NEEDS: 

He is needing many things to help him live comfortably through this. Right now he is living on the 2nd story of a building in a small apartment. For him to continue living there he will need an elevator that will cost around 10K or we will need to move into a new place and we will need the financial means to help him with the move and also help him pay for a new place. Dad will continuing needing equipment and medical supplies to help him move around and live - wheel chairs, shower support, at home care equipment etc.

In May of 2017 the family came together to fly Dad to Japan for an alternative treatment, we were able to purchases medicine for him, but what we are seeing is this treatment may not be working at all - if it is working, Dad's health is still decreasing rapidly

Dad has a couple years left to live and we want to do whatever we can to help him. We need your help to make this possible.

Each donation is greatly appreciated! Even $5 can help. We have reward levels that allow you to earn t-shirts and other things. T-shirts, headbands, and items included in the reward levels must be picked up at our fundraiser on Aug 5th in Aberdeen.
Donate

Donations 

  • Dani Neil
    • $200 
    • 7 yrs
Donate

Organizer and beneficiary

Desiree Burgess Alford
Organizer
Kent, WA
Desiree Burgess
Beneficiary

Your easy, powerful, and trusted home for help

  • Easy

    Donate quickly and easily.

  • Powerful

    Send help right to the people and causes you care about.

  • Trusted

    Your donation is protected by the  GoFundMe Giving Guarantee.