“Walk With Me” Chapter 53

On 14 October, hundreds of people gathered together on the Mall in DC to bring awareness to Unlock ALS Of those involved, over 20 of the walkers were there to support Team Mission DuBois.

As the team arrived it was cloudy with a chance of meatballs. With their ponchos on and umbrellas up they prepared to walk. The annual walk is one mile around the Washington Monument and this was the second year Team DuBois came together.  The difference this year was that the rain prevented Laura and myself from physically attending.  However, this did not prevent us from being involved.

In August of this year, ALS.Org announced this year’s walk and I was ready to begin. I decided last year I would focus on fundraising for the CEO Soak, but for the walk I wanted participants.  To me, the walk is more personal and allows participants to learn about ALS and meet others. It brings together people from different parts and chapters of my life. Last year, our furthest participant was Mike from Colorado. This year Denise joined from Arizona, and we consider both Mike and Denise family. I could throw parties but I'd never get such a mix from the many parts of my life come together at one time. The only other time groups get together like this is for a funeral and I’m not dying any time soon. #living

After spending the next few months gathering members and donations, we began to design and print our team shirts. This year’s design was the year of FCK ALS. On the front was Mission DuBois designed by Laura last year. “Mission“ represents my time in military. The “star” is the symbol used for a nonprofit “Victory Gardens For Vets” I was developing before ALS. “#living” last year theme. The back “FCK ALS” written in my daughter’s hand writing to match my tattoo.

One Sunday I was blessed yet again by Kay-Kay’s (Chapter 36) mom who offered to print our shirts using her family screen printer. Katherine and her family spent the weekend printing each shirt by hand and they are perfect. Like I said before, family is not only DNA.

Shirts on, hand crafted signs and flags in hand, and the team was off to the Mall, posting on Facebook live and handing out our stickers.  After the walk, Laura and I welcomed everyone to our home. Together we grew as a family, first over the event and next over breaking bread. Our team this year came from Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Arizona. We also had family walk in California and Germany.

As much as I love volunteering my time to help others and fundraise for a cause, the time spent with family after these events fills my soul. I have always loved the time after an event talking and laughing over stories. However, more than ever before, the time spent now is more precious than I can fully describe. My home was full of love and there may not have been enough seats for everyone, but we had a great day. I was further blessed when I held the hand of our friend’s baby and prayed he will never have to see ALS the way my children have to.

We all share a prayer that everyone touched by ALS benefits from a cure one day, and then we will be walking to celebrate life. Until then it’s my goal to continue to raise awareness and help find a cure. So I’m setting my goals now for next year.  I want a local team so big they won’t fit in my house and participants from every state to walk a mile on the same day.

So circle October 2024 on your calendar for you will walk a mile for ALS and pray next year it’s to celebrate life.

Love and blessings.