Help Me #ENDALS!

On Sunday, November 3rd, I'm proud to be running the TCS New York City Marathon as a part of Team ALS TDI. I will be running 26.2 miles on behalf of the The ALS Therapy Development Institute for a very special reason: to honor the strength and courage of my father, Jerry Travers, who is currently battling ALS.

ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, is a devastating illness that gradually robs people of their ability to move, speak and even breathe. It's a disease that affects not just the person living with it, but their entire family as well.

Running this marathon feels extra special not only because it is the day of my parent's 34th wedding anniversary, but also because my dad was the one who encouraged me to run my very first race in 2001.

In addition to introducing me to running, Jerry also shared with me his love of hiking. In 2014, we successfully completed a 6 month thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail - walking 2,185 miles from Georgia to Maine.

Anyone who knows Jerry knows how incredibly active he is, from walking to work and planting trees to attending spin classes and running races as a family.

That all changed in late 2021 when my dad began to notice he was struggling more than usual with his legs and mobility. 

Despite increasing difficulty, my father walked me and my sister down the aisles of our weddings in 2023, hers in April and mine in August. He was officially diagnosed with ALS one month later, September 2023. 

Jerry Travers has dedicated his life to making a difference in the lives of others - as a Boy Scout Troop leader, EarthShare Georgia volunteer, Red Cross Blood Drive donor, and more. Even now in the face of this horrible disease, he continues to be a model of strength, courage, and joy.

I am following in his footsteps now by trying to make a difference for those affected by ALS, including my dad. That's why this year - the 10th anniversary of our hike - I will again travel a long distance on foot, only this time to raise funds for Team ALS TDI. 

Every dollar I raise by running the New York City Marathon will go directly to supporting the ALS Therapy Development Institute's continuous efforts to advance promising drugs and help END ALS. While I train for and run the marathon this year, I'll be thinking of my late-grandmother, my dad, and the countless others who are living with ALS.

I hope you'll join me in supporting this important cause. Because ALS is not an incurable disease. It is an underfunded one. With your help we can make a difference and work towards a world with a cure for ALS. Thank you!