Team Goose - ALS Awareness
Donation protected
Through the Ice Bucket Challenge we have heard about ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease but we all wish that this disease does not hit home. Unfortunately for Gary Ragusa and his family (pictured above) this disease is a reality. Gary was recently diagnosed with ALS and the disease has already taken affect. Gary who is a honest, kind, loving, hard-working, and proud family man now struggles and is in pain trying to maintain a normal lifestyle. He now needs our help to cover medical bills that are accumulating from ALS studies and testing, and travel expenses etc. This is why myself (Claire Cousins Becker) and Michelle Miller Ellwanger are dedicating our 1st full marathon to Gary and his family and why Darren Hall is dedicating his Boston Qualifier marathon to Gary and his family.
Both Michelle and Darren have personal past experiences with ALS. Michelle lost a cousin and friend to ALS disease and and Darren had a close college friend who lost multiple members of his family to this disease. Darren's friend Allan had his grandfather, mother and aunt all succumbed to the disease. Al's mother, along with her sister Rochelle, were involved in beginning the NY Chapter, which was the first of its kind back in the 70’s. Through her work, she helped bring together work being done on both the East and West coasts which in turn led to the creation of the National ALS Association, simply known as the ALS Association today. She was a tireless advocate of working to not only promote the illness, which of course has lagged behind other illnesses in terms of federal funding and support, but also working to find a cure and provide assistance for those living with the disease. She was also the 2010 recipient of the ALS Association’s Jacob Javits Lifetime Achievement award for her work on behalf of ALS research and patients. She lost her own battle with the disease back in 2011 at the young age of 68. Her legacy lives on in her 3 children, their spouses and 9 grandchildren. They all remain activley involved in carrying on his mother's work!
So this run is also being dedicated to those loved ones lost who we still hold dear to our hearts.
Together we can fight ALS! Together we can find a Cure! Please donate here by race day on Sunday Nov 22nd.
Thank you all
From Claire, Michelle and Darren
Both Michelle and Darren have personal past experiences with ALS. Michelle lost a cousin and friend to ALS disease and and Darren had a close college friend who lost multiple members of his family to this disease. Darren's friend Allan had his grandfather, mother and aunt all succumbed to the disease. Al's mother, along with her sister Rochelle, were involved in beginning the NY Chapter, which was the first of its kind back in the 70’s. Through her work, she helped bring together work being done on both the East and West coasts which in turn led to the creation of the National ALS Association, simply known as the ALS Association today. She was a tireless advocate of working to not only promote the illness, which of course has lagged behind other illnesses in terms of federal funding and support, but also working to find a cure and provide assistance for those living with the disease. She was also the 2010 recipient of the ALS Association’s Jacob Javits Lifetime Achievement award for her work on behalf of ALS research and patients. She lost her own battle with the disease back in 2011 at the young age of 68. Her legacy lives on in her 3 children, their spouses and 9 grandchildren. They all remain activley involved in carrying on his mother's work!
So this run is also being dedicated to those loved ones lost who we still hold dear to our hearts.
Together we can fight ALS! Together we can find a Cure! Please donate here by race day on Sunday Nov 22nd.
Thank you all
From Claire, Michelle and Darren
Organizer
Claire Louise Becker
Organizer
Midland Park, NJ
