Ron Dengler ALS Fund

Hi everyone! My name is Steve Leever, and I work in the fantastic Kutztown Area School District in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. I am organizing a group of people in our community to raise much-needed support for a colleague of mine, Ron Dengler. In January 2022, Ron was diagnosed with ALS. ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is an always fatal neurodegenerative disease in which a person's brain loses connection with the muscles. People with ALS lose their ability to walk, talk, eat and eventually breathe (ALS.org). Ron, his wife Tedra and their teenage son Austin have a long road ahead.

Ron was our primary maintenance employee for the school district and, by doctors' orders, had to stop working a little over a month ago. Ron is not one to sit idly by, so not working is very challenging. An odd characteristic of ALS is that the more you exercise, the worse the impact on your muscle decline. So many people have asked how we can help Ron, and my thoughts were to try to meet some of his material needs. As Ron's disease progresses, he will need more assistive modifications and devices in the home. I have set a goal of $50,000, knowing that care for an ALS patient goes far beyond that.

All funds given will go directly to Ron, Tedra and Austin to use as needed. Their most immediate needs are handicap-accessible modifications to their home to accommodate Ron's increased lack of mobility. They will be purchasing a wheelchair-accessible van. Funds can also go to mortgage reduction and support for Ron's ongoing care.

Never one to stand still for very long, Ron has lived an active life, working as a landscaper, and as a maintenance Jack-of-all-trades. He is an avid hunter who loves to tinker at odds and ends at home and work, something he has done with Austin since he was four. The family loves the beach and looks forward to their annual trips to the shore. Austin and Ron continue to collect and work on tractors, and Ron's dream has been to start a mowing repair shop with Austin.

His disease was first noticed when he began to lose the use of his fingers, left hand, and arm. His doctors say that his ALS progression appears to be slow as of now. He visits the ALS clinic in Hershey every three months as his medical team helps him monitor his progress and plan for the next stages.

Please consider ways in which you can support the Dengler family. Whatever money we can collect here will be appreciated in ways you cannot imagine as Ron and his family work through this difficult season of challenge. Thank you for considering helping Ron, Tedra and Austin.