Bryan Szymczak has always run toward danger. For 26 years, he fought fires in cities across Illinois, until an ALS diagnosis forced him into early retirement. It began with a weakness in his right thumb, which he chalked up to …
Faces of ALS: A Veteran Nurse’s Journey of Service and Strength
Connie Daniels has dedicated much of her life to caring for others. Born at St. Luke’s Hospital in 1946, she grew up on the South Side of Chicago. The oldest girl in a family of six, Connie always wanted to …
Up to the Challenge: The Hernandez Family
Caring makes the difference. For Mario Hernandez, it starts with his daughters Jenny and Emily. “My daughters are two angels that God gave me, to support me in this moment of what I’m going through right now,” says Mario. …
The Keldani Family Fights On
Susan Keldani won’t slow down. At the age of 60, she’s a prolific fundraiser for ALS care and research, the mother of college-age triplets, and the owner of a busy intermodal trucking company. Managing a business alongside the ever-present …
The things that matter the most
Brian Davis was diagnosed with ALS last year at the age of 35. This holiday season, Brian and his wife Katy McNeil want to share how the disease has affected them – and how much your support for the Les …
Faces of ALS: The Tejeda Family’s Journey / El Camino de la Familia Tejeda
At the age of 54, Martin Tejeda found himself in uncharted territory for the second time. Originally from Atlixco in the state of Puebla, Mexico, he immigrated to Chicago at 19, and over the decades that followed, his family has …
Faces of ALS: Anne Lidsky, a legacy of resilience and love
More than 50 years later, Anne Lidsky vividly remembers preparing mixed chicken broth and other homemade concoctions for her mother’s feeding tube. She was a teenager when her mother was diagnosed with ALS, and with her father also unwell, Anne …
Faces of ALS: Julie Stowell, from the heart
She’s one of the people you see at the finish line of the ALS Walk for Life, wearing a sparkly silver-and-blue tutu as she cheers on the finishers. But watch Julie Stowell for a minute and you’ll see her slip …
Faces of ALS: Celebrating Glenview Tag Days: 25 Years of Community Support & Fundraising
In the heart of Glenview, Illinois, a remarkable tradition has flourished over the past 25 years. Not only have the volunteers behind this grassroots campaign raised valuable funds for ALS care and research, but what they’ve learned can help you …
