We all have seen somebody suffering from a painful disease, whether it is a loved one or a stranger on the street, and felt like there was nothing we could do to help. There are no words to describe this vulnerable feeling and it is felt by people everyday all over the world. Often times, many diseases can seemingly come out of nowhere, no matter how healthy the person may be. Fortunately, there ARE ways of being proactive in helping those suffering from terrible diseases in your community. There are marches and fundraisers held all across the world in support of and in hopes of spreading awareness about these diseases.

You may have heard of ALS from the ice bucket challenge that was spreading around a few years ago. The ice bucket challenge involved somebody dumping a bucket of ice-cold water over their heads to spread ALS awareness and encourage donations. ALS, Amyotrophic later sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease, can affect anybody, at any time. It is a progressive disease, meaning it gets worse over time. It controls nerves in your brain and spinal cord that are responsible for muscle control. As ALS progresses, your muscles get weaker and it gets harder to walk, talk, eat and breathe.

Those suffering from this disease are prisoners in their own bodies.

This past weekend, in Washington D.C., there was a walk held where hundreds of people gathered in support of those suffering from ALS. I was honored to be one of those people. While most came with a donation and their loved one who has the disease, some came to solely support the walk.

The woman who I came to personally support is a good friend of my mother's. Not only did she not do anything wrong to receive this disease, she always did everything to stay healthy. She is an avid tennis player and runner. Before her ALS diagnosis, she was very healthy. This devastating disease is not linked to lifestyle choices. She has a daughter and, like any mother, desperately wants to see her married next August and wants to be alive to help raise her grandchildren. She knows that she needs the help of her friends, family and the community to thrive and survive. Her community has responded with donations for special treatments and medications. Since her diagnosis in March 2017, there have been three walks held to support her recovery.

While this is only one story of many who have been hit by ALS, it is worth sharing in hopes of spreading much-needed awareness of the disease.

For more information on ALS or how to donate to the cause, visit www.alsa.org
or call 800-782-4747.