Chadwick Family Raising funds for ALS
(Lou Gehrig's disease)
benefitting the ALS Association of Oregon/SW WashingtonTake action now!
Add your name to the list of Rob's supporters:
Donate via Rob's tribute page
Drive Fore ALS Golf Tournament July 24th (pdf)
About ALS
ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) is a progressive, fatal neuromuscular disease that slowly robs the body of it's ability to walk, speak, swallow and breathe.
The life expectancy of an ALS patient averages two to five years from the time of diagnosis.
Every 90 minutes a person in this country is diagnosed with ALS and every 90 minutes another person will lose their battle against this disease.
ALS can strike anyone. Presently there is no known cause of the disease. Someone you know or love may die from ALS unless a cure is found.
Caring for a loved one with ALS in Oregon costs well over $100,000 each year on average.
kids: Korina (6), Kyle (4)
At age 35, on September 17th 2007, I was diagnosed with ALS/Lou Gehrig's disease. I retired on October 6th on my daughter, Korina's 6th birthday. On average, people with ALS die within 2-5 years of diagnosis, succumbing to gradual total paralysis and loss of the ability to speak, eat, or breathe unassisted. Few than 10% live more than 10 years. My hope is to see my kids graduate from highschool. In order for me to beat these odds, I will likely have to go on a ventillator for breathing support. At this stage of the disease, I will require 24/7 skilled in-home care, which costs over $100,000 per year in Oregon for the average ALS patient. This adds up to millions of dollars per year for the approximately 400 people living with ALS in our state. Today, my family receives crucial support from the ALS Association: navigating complex social security & medicare issues, equipment loans, support groups, and a multi-disciplinary ALS Clinic in Portland where we go every few months & I see all of the many specialists I need all in one visit. One ALS Association social worker currently serves patients from Vancouver, WA to Eugene, Oregon. Two others cover the rest of the state. More social workers are needed. In-Home care - The ALS Association hopes to raise funds to begin an in-home care coordinator program. With their current budget of less than $1m, they can't provide funding directly for in-home care. What they hope to do instead, is to create a program that will train family care providers, train and certify professional care givers, negotiate agency discounts on behalf of patients, and provide ongoing oversight. While the ALS Association is hoping to secure some funding at the state level, this may take years to materialize. Through your support you can help make the vision of an in-home care coordinator program a reality for Oregonians that need help now.
Ways you can help: Donate via Rob's tribute page (http://alsfund.org/chadwick) Drive Fore ALS Golf Tournament July 24th (pdf) Walk with Rob in Salem, September 20th (http://web.alsa.org/goto/RobsWalk-Salem) Sponsor Rob's Walk Team (http://web.alsa.org/goto/RobsWalk-Salem)
First Friday to Fight ALS in Silverton, OR - September 5th (http://alsfund.org/firstfriday)
Our contact information: rob.chadwick@gmail.com (Rob's email) jennifer@rustyzipper.com (Jen's email) 503-873-6824 (home) 5714 Crooked Finger Rd NE - Scotts Mills, OR - 97375 ALS Association of Oregon/SW Washington Website: http://webor.alsa.org Toll Free: 800-681-9851 |