August 2026 Foundation eNews - Les Turner ALS Foundation

Getting the gang back together: Rob Akins and the joy of Rob’s Mob

For more than 20 years, Rob Akins has lived with ALS — and for the past three, he’s walked with Rob’s Mob, the team that bears his name and reflects his community. “Getting the gang back together and seeing everyone. It’s very satisfying,” Rob says of his favorite ALS Walk for Life moment.

His daughter captains the team and designs their t-shirts each year. Family travels from Cleveland and Indiana. Former Motorola colleagues, longtime caregivers, and even fourth-grade classmates have found their way to the Mob.

This year marks the team’s fourth Walk, and Rob keeps it joyful — handing out brass number pins to the youngest walkers to mark each year they’ve participated. For Rob, the Walk is about agency, dignity, and hope.

Join him and hundreds of others at this year’s ALS Walk for Life at Soldier Field. Register as an individual or start a team today!

Are you up to the challenge?

For more than a decade, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has inspired millions to raise awareness and support for people affected by ALS. Whether you’re taking the plunge for the first time or reviving the tradition, your challenge can fuel comprehensive care, support services, clinical trials, and groundbreaking research at the Les Turner ALS Foundation.

Here’s how to make it count: grab a bucket, film vertically for 30–45 seconds, share your “why,” and nominate a few friends to keep it going. Be sure to tag the Foundation and include a donation link so others can join your impact — we’ll share your video. Want to turn it into a team event? We’ll help you set up a custom fundraising page.

Every challenge, every donation, and every shared video moves us closer to a world free of ALS.

Take the challenge now while summer’s still here and make a difference today!

Don’t miss our next ALS Learning Series webinar this Thursday, August 20, at 10 a.m. CT: ALS-FTD Clinicopathological Overlap.

Dr. David Irwin, clinical director of the Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center and a leading researcher in cognitive neurology and neuropathology at the University of Pennsylvania, will lead this one-hour session exploring the shared biology between ALS and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). You’ll gain insight into the cognitive and behavioral changes that can occur, how they may present over time, and what they mean for care and support planning.

A live Q&A with Dr. Irwin will follow the presentation — your questions are welcome.

The Les Turner ALS Foundation is proud to offer this webinar at no cost to the ALS community. Thank you to the Gilbert & Jacqueline Fern Foundation, Biogen & Shionogi for sponsoring this webinar.

Register now at the link.

Guide Spotlight: ALS & Mobility

Independence and the ability to get out into the community is a priority for people living with ALS as mobility needs evolve. Our ALS & Mobility guide walks you through the durable medical equipment that can help you stay active and safe — from straight canes and rollator walkers to leg braces and custom-fitted power wheelchairs.

This resource has everything you need to know about your options. It explains what to consider before choosing a wheelchair, how insurance coverage typically works, and what transportation possibilities exist once you’re using a chair. You’ll also find guidance on aids for transfers, including gait belts, transfer boards, and patient lifts, so you and your caregiver can navigate daily life with confidence.

With input from your ALS care team and technical advice from our Support Services team, you’ll feel prepared for every stage of the journey.

Read the ALS & Mobility guide here, available in both English and Spanish.

ICYMI: Running a marathon for Mom

Kevin Dispensa never planned to run a marathon. But when his best friend suggested tackling the Chicago Marathon in honor of Kevin’s mom, Janie Gobeli, everything clicked. Now Kevin, his brother, his dad, and three close friends are training for their first 26.2 — and raising funds for the Les Turner ALS Foundation as part of Team Race for ALS.

Janie was diagnosed with ALS in 2021 and quickly became a tireless advocate, serving on advisory boards and pushing for better treatments. She passed away last year, but her legacy lives on in her son’s footsteps. “The push is to raise money, show up in a big way,” Kevin says.

From surprise $12,000 donations to company-hosted virtual 5Ks, the team’s fundraising creativity is paying off.

Read Kevin’s full story and support Team Race for ALS today.

In Our Thoughts

We offer our sincere condolences to all those who have lost a loved one to ALS. Today, and every day, we honor and remember them.

Kim Williams

We invite you to share a tribute—whether a story, memory, or photo— to our Celebration of Life memorial wall, keeping the legacy of your loved one alive and reminding others they are never forgotten.

Support ALS Care and Research

The Les Turner ALS Foundation exists to care for those affected by the disease, answer their questions, support them and their loved ones, and provide hope through scientific research at the Les Turner ALS Center at Northwestern Medicine.

Please make a gift so we can continue to deliver that care and support. Together, we will create a world free of ALS.