Hall of Fame

Almont, Michigan

“Watching someone you love slowly stop talking, moving, and breathing on their own is the worst thing I have ever had to witness. Watching his wife, children, and grandchildren experience this was torture. My husband lost his dad, just two months before we got married. We tried to rush the wedding so he could witness it, but ALS was a force too strong to be ignored. We reserved a seat for him in the front row of our ceremony, and we always make sure to celebrate his life on special days.”

Jenkintown, Pennsylvania

"My dad has ALS. No big deal. Not much has changed. Same ole', same ole' around here. He sits around a lot, watches TV, orders me and my mom around; "put my socks on, fill my water bottle, feed me, open this door, close that door, zip up my jacket, clean my glasses, wipe my nose, change the channel, flush the toilet, scratch my back..." and all this before 9 am. My mom says he's faking it for attention. "enough all ready" she'll say, "time to give up the schtick, honey".

"I hope you can hear my sarcasm and tongue-in-cheek sense of humor. That's what gets us through this ruthless disease. We laugh at the ridiculousness of it all. What other choice do we have?"

Bronx, New York

"My mother's death has lit a fire in my soul to eliminate illicit bias from as many systems as possible. I plan to use this scholarship to assist with ensuring that people of color are seen and heard in spaces that can negatively impact their lives and their family's legacies."

Missouri City, Texas

"My mom was diagnosed with advanced-stage sporadic ALS last November. She passed away approximately five months after receiving her diagnosis. Her quest to find answers to her “floppy foot,” began over a year ago, which was the initial symptom. With no family history of the disease, she spent over a year going to doctor appointments, actively searching for answers. She was determined to get her life back, visiting her PCP multiple times and seeking answers from several neurologists. She was told it was due to a nerve compression in her spine and untreated scoliosis, was scheduled for surgery, and she was hopeful. She endured the surgery and subsequent rehab isolated from her family, but, unbeknownst to her, she was entering a battle for which she was not given the ammunition. We need to do better. ALS patients deserve better."

Farmers Branch, Texas

After the passing of my father, our family was only allowed to live off of what my mother got from her Survivor Benefits and her Disability each month. The money that my mother got we used towards necessities that we needed to survive so we weren't able to save money for college. The only way I can go to college would be if I get scholarships that pay for everything. Every single scholarship would help and this scholarship would help pay part of my tuition and allow me to further my education in hopes of working in broadcast production."

Brigham Young University, Utah

“We have lived across the world spending time as a family, participating in medical trials, and doing non profit work for my dads ALS focused non profit (ALS Crowd). My dad was diagnosed at age 35 when I was 10 years old and now I can hardly remember a version of him that was healthy. He is now in bed full time using a breathing aid part time….

“He is going strong doing as much as he can for my family and for the ALS community running his small empire from a computer he controls with his eyes. He is my hero. ”

Brigham Young University, Utah

“ALS has been traced back in every generation all the way to my great-great-grandmother. My grandfather is someone who I spend and saw the effects of this disease with the most. He lived with the disease for an unusually long time and for most of that time did not have the ability to use his legs as that was where the disease first presented itself.”

Brigham Young University, Utah

“Thank you again for the financial help you are providing me and my wife! I pray for your family and their wellbeing. ALS has been in my mom’s side of the family as long as I can remember, and it took my grandpa from our family many years earlier than he would have lived otherwise. And now other family members are struggling through it as well. Even though the worry of “will I be the next one to get it” still sometimes enters my mind.”