#FlexonALS
May 1st brings us ALS awareness month, and I am hoping to bring back the Flex on ALS challenge but put a different spin on it!
For those of you who may not remember, Scott created the Flex on ALS challenge and asked people to, “Flex for the people who can’t.” He was so passionate about this challenge and had high hopes to make it a challenge that went global. And because he is Scott, he did just that, and had thousands of people everywhere show their flex and raised thousands of dollars for ALS organizations.
In honor of Scott, move your body this May.
People ask me when I think about Scott (which is all the time), but the truth is I think about him the MOST when I am working out. I work out because it improves my physical and mental health and also makes me feel closer to Scott, since working out was something he loved to do. Watching ALS take that joy away from him was so painful to witness. When I am moving, whether it be walking, running, cycling, lifting weights, I think about Scott and just feel grateful for being able to move. I no longer take my good health for granted, as I know it can be gone in an instant.
With that said, I would like to ask everyone to join me in a Flex on ALS movement challenge. Each day for the month of May, think about a way you can move your body that feels good to you, or when you otherwise wouldn’t. For example: taking the stairs instead of taking the elevator, going on a walk when you would normally watch TV, taking a yoga class, or just crushing a solo workout at the gym. Any kind of intentional movement where you can remind yourself, “I am grateful for my body and what it can do for me.” Post to social media and use the hashtag #FlexonALS to raise awareness for ALS.
I am doing this challenge to raise money for ALS TDI, an amazing organization that works every day to find cures for ALS and were a great support for Scott and our family during his diagnosis. A donation of even $10 can make a difference! It would mean the world to me if you can either join me in this challenge or donate to ALS TDI or do both! I hope we can do something that will simultaneously make us feel good about ourselves and our bodies, push for a cure for ALS, and honor Scott’s memory together this month.
A person living with ALS has generously offered to match all donations to ALS TDI from NEW DONORS in the month of May, up to $25,000!! This is an incredible opportunity to double your impact!
To end the challenge, I plan to visit Scott's alma mater, Truman State University. As a tribute to Scott, his fraternity brothers worked together to have a pull-up bar installed on campus with Scott's name and Flex on ALS engraved in it. This is located by the ROTC training facility, where they can use the pull-up bar and think of Scott and what he fought for and endured each day. I plan to visit and do a pull-up (maybe more if we reach our fundraising goal!) for the first time at this special memorial. Anyone is welcome to join me there and I will keep you updated as it gets closer!
#FlexonALS
Remembering Scott: Check out Scott's Blog