John Welch (Somerville/Medford Ma)

John Welch was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) in November 2016. Although the disease has progressed John’s sprits remain high, his attitude is very positive and he feels incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by so much love and support.

Unfortunately, John is now confined to a wheelchair; which makes getting around much more difficult. We have decided to increase the goal of this GoFundMe to help cover the cost of a handicapped van for the Welch family. The van will help tackle everyday obstacles John faces by providing him with transportation for doctors’ appointments and the ability to enjoy activities outside the house.

John taught in the Somerville school system for many years, until his illness caused him to retire in 2017. He and his wife, Mary, met in Somerville and have been married for 36 years. They raised their three children (Johnny, Mollie and Emily) in Mary’s hometown of Medford.

Baseball has always been a part of the Welch family. John worked for the Boston Red Sox for 40 years, and was able to participate in the Red Sox’s World Series Victory Parade that took place on October 31, 2018.

On July 29th, 2017, the Red Sox held an ALS Awareness Night to help bring more attention to this disease and to honor those who are battling every day. That night, the Red Sox thanked John for his many years of dedicated service to the organization and to the fans of Fenway Park.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/wncme2k00s7sz06/AABFfXAxMnBp9I0mNGMMnutKa?dl=0
 
On opening night of the 2018 World Series, NBC 10’s Jackie Bruno interviewed John and Mary at their home in Medford:
https://www.nbcboston.com/multimedia/Former-Fenway-Employee-With-ALS-Dreams-of-WS-Win_NECN-498364171.html

Thank you to those who have already donated and thank you in advance for any additional support that is received going forward. It is greatly appreciated!

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.”              – Melody Beattie