My name is Kelley, and I’m raising funds to support my friend and former bookstore colleague, Pete Richie.

Pete was diagnosed with ALS in September. This fundraiser is intended to help with the ongoing and often unexpected costs of living with a progressive illness, including lost wages, medical expenses, adaptive equipment, and travel related to care and clinical trials.

Many people have asked how they can help. This is one meaningful way to support Pete and his partner, Lisa, as they move forward together.

“There is fear and uncertainty, but I still find a little joy in every day. I wake up in the morning next to the one I love, with a song on my lips and a little hope in my heart.”

— Pete Richie

While the ALS Association has provided invaluable early support, the financial realities of ALS extend far beyond the initial diagnosis. This fundraiser is meant to help ease some of that long-term burden.

From Lisa, Pete’s partner:

The ALS road is a hard one, but I’ve seen it clarify what matters most to Pete. He is focused on spending time with the people he loves, contributing to the community he cares so deeply about, and staying as healthy as possible for as long as possible.

There are many smart people working on promising therapies, and Pete is doing everything he can to be ready for what comes next.

If a financial contribution isn’t possible, please know that connection matters just as much. A phone call, a message, or a shared memory helps keep Pete grounded in the life he loves and the community that loves him back.

If funds remain after Pete’s immediate needs are met, they will be donated to the ALS Association to support research and services for others living with ALS.

More from Pete:

Father, son, brother, partner, friend. Daydreamer. Volunteer. Singer. Writer. Bike rider.

Pete has spent the last 15 years volunteering with the Robbinsdale Historical Society, helping preserve and tell the story of the town that shaped him. He has written books, blogs, and poems, shared songs with friends and strangers, and spent decades riding the Twin Cities bike paths he loves.

Place, people, and shared history have always mattered deeply to him, and they continue to ground him now.

If you prefer to contribute by check, please reach out directly and we’ll make sure it gets to the right place.