Walk to Defeat ALS

The ALS Association of Georgia has already been so helpful to us with providing education and assistance. They are instrumental in providing resources locally. Every dollar counts towards helping find a treatment and cure, and providing assistance and support to those in need. Research grants come from the association too. Our team, JJJourney raise more than $20,000 to go to the ALS Association of Georgia. In our first year, we were ranked 4th in fundraising. As of January 2017, we have borrowed a walker from their "borrow" closet and have applied for a biannual grant using receipts just a 3 month supply of rilutek! I have also been to lunch with Emma Carey, one of the coordinators. Developing relationships like this is important for me to manage my own personal emotions with Jason's disease.

Our teammates did a lot to fund raise, probably even more than we are aware of. Letters went out and Facebook came in handy to get the word out!

My mom did (and still does) bake sales at work every Friday. She makes different treats each week, and you can see whoopie pies in one (she brought us some too!). AND one Friday, my mom sent me this message when her coworkers did a pot luck: "Almost every staff member and attorney brought in food in support of our family. I work with some of the most kind, caring, supportive people on the face of God's green earth."

unnamed

unnamed (1)

IMG_3631

My niece, Abigail, set up a lemonade stand in Beaufort, NC.

We had friends fly and family drive, coworker support, neighbor support, and virtual support from all over the country! When my mother first mentioned doing the walk back in the summer, we never imagined how big it would get! It was nothing short of AMAZING! We also decided to have a cookout celebrating everyone's hard work, thank our family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors for all of their love and support. We are 2 lucky people. We had hotdogs, hamburgers, and some sides provided by our teammates. We had TV and fun for the kids out back. Below are some pictures from the walk and cookout.

You can see JJJourney in #4 spot

Jason and I

with Abigail and Olivia, our nieces

with Mama and Dale

the walk starts here

Mama and Dale

My sister, Suzanne, got this picture

It was 3 miles....

Atlanta walk

Bonnie

all the kiddos

Vivianne, Carlos, and Jason

neighbors :)

watching....guess....

Amber was my maid of honor in our wedding. Amber and Cameron were on their Honeymoon in Bali and made sure to wear their ALS bracelets to virtually support us. LOVE THEM!