July 2025 Foundation eNews - Les Turner ALS Foundation

Walking for Richie—and for each other

For more than a decade, the D’Ambrosia family has come together for the ALS Walk for Life, honoring the man who brought them to the cause. Diagnosed in 2013 and living in Bronzeville near the old Comiskey Park, Richie was a proud White Sox fan, father, and grandfather.

“Our first Walk was with my dad,” his son shares. “After he passed, we kept showing up. It’s how we stay connected—to him and to each other.”

From the March of Faces to the joy of seeing the grandkids search for their grandfather’s photo, each year brings meaning and memory.

“Les Turner was amazing during the hardest time of our lives,” he says. “They helped my mom navigate everything.”

Join us at Soldier Field on Saturday, Sept. 20 to walk in honor of those we’ve loved—and those still fighting.

What’s better than a summer cruise?

Join the Les Turner ALS Foundation’s Young ProfessionALS Group for what is sure to be one of the summer’s most memorable nights: Cruisin’ for a Cure!

On Saturday, August 9, we’ll set sail along Chicago’s iconic lakefront aboard a festive tiki boat, complete with an open bar, skyline views, and a fireworks finale. Whether you’re reconnecting with friends or making new ones, it’s a night you won’t want to miss.

Boarding begins at 8:30 p.m., and the cruise is from 9–10:30 p.m.

All proceeds support ALS care, support, and research through the Les Turner ALS Foundation.

Space is limited—reserve your spot today!

Preserving your voice after an ALS diagnosis is an urgent priority—but recording is only the beginning. In our next ALS Learning Series webinar, Voice Preservation Beyond Recording: Creating and Using My Preserved Voice, you’ll learn how to integrate your recorded voice into communication tools and software, and explore the latest developments in message banking, voice cloning, and AI.

Lane Rials, MS, CCC-SLP, a speech-language pathologist with over 20 years of AAC experience, will guide us through current best practices and treatment recommendations.

Thank you to the Gilbert & Jacqueline Fern Foundation and Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America for sponsoring this program, made available at no cost.

Calling all volunteers!

Looking for a meaningful way to give back? Join us as a volunteer! Whether you’re helping out at one of our signature events like the ALS Walk for Life or lending a hand at a Fundraise Your Way event in your community, your time and energy can make a lasting impact.

No special skills are required—just a willingness to help and a heart for the ALS community. From event setup to registration or cheering on participants, there’s a role for everyone. The reward? Knowing you’ve made a real difference for people living with ALS.

Ready to get involved? Fill out our interest form on our site by clicking here.

Guide Spotlight: ALS & Relationships, Sex and Intimacy

An ALS diagnosis doesn’t just affect the individual—it transforms relationships. Our ALS & Relationships Guide offers support and practical strategies for partners, spouses, and caregivers adjusting to new roles, emotional shifts, and physical challenges.

The guide explores how to manage changing relationship dynamics, communicate openly, and maintain intimacy—both emotional and physical. It also addresses cognitive and behavioral changes that may emerge during the disease progression, with tips for preserving connection and understanding.

Whether you’re navigating grief or redefining your role as a partner, this guide encourages you to take one day at a time and focus on meaningful moments together.

Read the full guide, available in English and Spanish.

Celebration of Life

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.