Grief comes in many different forms, at many different times. Since I lost my Dad in 2017 to ALS, I have found that lacing up my shoes and running has provided me an outlet to manage the emotions that come with losing a loved one. Being out on the quiet country roads allows me to talk to my Dad and be alone with my memories and thoughts.

Today, I am running and raising money for a charity that gave our family, and my father, so much in the short time that he was sick. Ron and the team at CCALS immediately became an integral part of our life as we came to terms with my Dad’s disease. CCALS and Ron provided more than just the necessary equipment needed to make my Dad’s life as normal as possible. Ron became a friend to my Dad, an expert my mother could consult, and a confidant that my siblings and I could talk to as we struggled to understand what was happening. Hopefully, one day a cure will be found, but until then, organizations like CCALS are critical. I hope you will find it in your heart to donate to CCALS today as I run the Ipswich Ale Half Marathon in honor of my dad and everyone who suffers from ALS.