"Well, this is certainly a different post than normal!" you might be commenting to yourself at this moment. I'm sharing on my blog today the information on my personal page for the Columbus Walk to Defeat ALS. I've posted on Facebook and sent personal emails in the past and decided to add my "Giving Wings to Thoughts" blog to the effort. Yes, it's that important to me. I so appreciate the support on my journey with ALS and in this effort to combat this ugly disease!
The 2013 Walk to Defeat ALS will be held on Sunday, September 29 at the Fred Beekman Park on the campus of OSU with registration beginning at 9:30 am and the walk at 11 am. This is the third year a team of our family and friends (Bill's Backers) will participate as we do what we can to combat this challenging disease. The Walk raises funds to support the Central and Southern Ohio ALS Association Chapter as it provides support for those of us living with the realities of the disease and needed research.
Most of you are aware that I was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) in August of 2010. If you follow my blog, "Giving Wings to Thoughts" http://wcroy22.blogspot.ca/, you know that this past year the disease has progressed to the point where I stopped driving in December, 2012; recently was helped to my feet by paramedics four times in one week resulting in my no longer standing to transfer from power wheelchair to shower, toilet, and bed but learning to use a slide board; switched to an A-pap machine with a battery so I can still be mobile as my bi-pap needs increase; am showered and dressed by my loving and lovely wife, Dorothy; and now sleep in a hospital bed. While we are getting used to having to curtail our travels, we are blessed to be living in a handicapped accessible house which we moved into in September, 2012.
What began as a modest $5,000 goal two years ago has resulted in the Bill's Backers team contributing over $64,000 to the battle against ALS! I cannot thank you enough!
We want to continue doing what we can to support research as well as the work of the local chapters providing support groups and needed equipment. We want to invite you to join us in this year's efforts in one or more of the following ways:
1) Go to http://web.alsa.org/goto/billsbackers. If you simply wish to join our team and make a donation, proceed to the Register drop down box and join the Bill's Backers team as a walker or virtual walker and make a donation as a team member or to any of the team members already registered.
2) Or, this same area will also give you the opportunity to develop a Personal Page about our relationship and why you are participating. You simply make the donation to your own effort and then email this information to 5, 10, or 20+ of your family and friends thus further increasing the awareness of the disease and potential resources for this fight. You can also repost on Facebook. Remember: this event is both about sharing information about ALS and raising funds. Most of the work done this way is done electronically, which means you don't have to do the face-to-face ask. If your family, friends or work associates understand why you are interested in this effort, it's amazing how willing they are to join the fight to Defeat ALS! If you are interested and need help setting up your personal page, feel free to contact one of the persons noted below.
3) We've had wonderful success with ALS fundraising nights at City BBQ and Jersey Mike's. Would any of you be interested in hosting such a night at a local restaurant in your community? Bill's Backers captain, Nicki Crellin, is willing to help with the paperwork part of it if anyone is willing to give it a try. Again, her contact information is below.
Please note: If you make a gift, you will have the option of making an anonymous gift. Otherwise, your support will be recognized on the "Fundraising Honor Roll" scrolling on the right side of the page.
My daughter, Megan Croy (meganrcroy@yahoo.com), son and daughter-in-law, Jeremy & Meladie Croy (croyjn@tiffin.edu, meladiew@hotmail.com), sister, Phyllis Macke (pjmacke@gmail.com), and niece, Nicki Crellin (nicki.crellin@wright.edu), have all agreed to serve as contact persons if you have any questions.
Thanks and God's blessings on you all as you consider what you are able to do!
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