Team Arrivederci ALS isn’t waving the white flag. Mike Leopold’s dad was diagnosed with ALS in early 2024, shortly after hand surgery revealed a discrepancy in tests. “I believe we can choose to let this destroy us or unite us,” …
Finding a Favorite Part of Every Day: Brady Beck and Team Race for ALS
When Brady Beck lines up at the 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, he’ll be running with more than qualifying for Boston on his mind. He’ll be running for his dad. Dan Beck battled ALS from 2019 to 2021. Throughout …
September 2026 Foundation eNews
Walking for Stephanie keeps her light shining Stephanie Kennedy was, as her daughter Elizabeth describes her, “the brightest light in the room.” When Stephanie was diagnosed with ALS in February 2020, that light never dimmed — it simply found new …
September 2026 Foundation eNews
From a team of three to a growing force: Special Agent Marshman returns When Cliff Marshman was diagnosed with ALS in September 2024, the very next day was the ALS Walk for Life. His wife knew she had to do …
August 2026 Foundation eNews
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 …
Connecting the immune system to ALS to develop new therapies
Researchers have long suspected the immune system to be a key player in the connective breakdown between the brain and the muscles in people with ALS. At the Les Turner ALS Center at Northwestern Medicine, neuroimmunologist and assistant professor David …
August 2026 Foundation eNews
Family, faith, and a reason to walk together For Michael Jaquez and his family, the ALS Walk for Life is about one thing: seeing his mom, Luz, smile. Diagnosed with ALS in early 2025, Luz faced the first months with …
Running a Marathon for Mom: Kevin Dispensa and Team Race for ALS
Kevin Dispensa never planned to run a marathon. But when his best friend from high school, Ross, suggested they tackle the Chicago Marathon in honor of Kevin’s mom, Janie Gobeli, everything clicked. Now, Kevin, his brother, his dad, and three …
July 2026 Foundation eNews
Kravitz Krew is going 22-years strong at the ALS Walk for Life For Gary Kravitz, the ALS Walk for Life is a tradition over two decades in the making. Since his first Walk at Montrose Harbor in 2004, Gary and …
Finding the exact target for potential ALS drug
More than 15 years ago, Northwestern University professor Richard Silverman set out to discover a small molecule compound that could prevent toxic protein aggregation in the brain. From that journey came NU-9, a drug that prevents the aggregation of the …
