Houston, Texas- In the face of adversity, two families have emerged in the fight against Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The Kathmann/Patina Family and the Julien/Richter family share a common thread: both families have a sibling battling ALS. Their journey is not only a testament to family strength but also a voice in raising awareness and support.   Sally Kathmann and Mary Patina Sally Kathmann is the 9th child out of 10 children who has embarked on a unique mission for her 55th birthday—running a half marathon. Her inspiration stems from her second oldest sister Mary, who was dia ..read more

Houston, Texas- Amongst the warmth of a close-knit family resides a charismatic woman whose journey with ALS has become an inspiring testament to love, resilience, and the unwavering support of family and friends. Andrea Allen is a wife with a loving husband of 32 years, mother to 13 children (9 of whom are adopted), grandmother of 13 grandchildren, and sister, whose life took an unexpected turn when diagnosed with ALS in December 2021. Born and raised in Houston, Andrea has spent a significant part of her life nurturing young minds as a dedicated kindergarten teacher for two decade ..read more

A Week of Challenges!   Go big or go home! That’s how we roll in Texas. We have a week full of challenges to help inspire you for this year’s Walk to Defeat ALS! Monday – Registration challenge – Recruit team members, the winner of this challenge will receive a prize! Tuesday- Make a self donation of $35 or above and be entered into the drawing for a prize! Wednesday – share a photo depicting why you Walk to be entered in a drawing; Thursday and Friday – The teams that bring in $1,000 will be entered into a drawing Register for the Walk to Defeat ALS ..read more

September 22 is the first official day of fall and you know what that means? It’s almost time for the annual Walk to Defeat ALS – a community celebration of HOPE across the state of Texas. We walk to celebrate those who are bravely fighting ALS and to honor the legacy of those who have passed from this disease. This year, we’re walking in eight cities across Texas! All our walk locations have been carefully chosen to provide safe walking trails for friends and families to put their fight into action while also having fun, and in whatever way you can and want to; walking, jogging, and y ..read more

It’s August. Whether you have family members getting ready to head back to school or not, you see the signs all around you. Literally, there are so many signs: Tax-free weekend Hiring Bus Drivers! Blinking school zones preparing you for the exit from summer New backpacks loaded up with grade-appropriate school supplies Sales on Kleenex and hand sanitizer First-day of school outfit laying out and ready to go No more staying up late for kiddos Getting back into the routine of early to bed and early to rise- all of these reminders of… ROUTINES rou·tinenoun a sequence of actions regularly follow ..read more

Many of us have at times have felt the calling to focus on becoming the best very version of ourselves, to let our lights shine brightly! To let your light shine brightly may mean sorting out old patterns of thinking or behaviors, undertaking personal development, or in the words of Dagmar Munn, utilizing “strategies that help me turn my inner critic into an inner coach”. In her June 2023 ALS News Today column, Dagmar shared- The other day, right in the middle of doing my daily chair exercises, I had to stop and turn down the volume of my mind’s inner critic. Because I was feeling a little slu ..read more

When you or a loved one is diagnosed with ALS, your whole world implodes. You find yourself on a traumatic and isolating journey, having to come to terms with this terrible disease. ALS is a club you never want to be in, but you’re not alone. It is estimated that there are 2,973 people living with ALS in Texas currently. This does not include the many caregivers, young adults, and children who love someone living with ALS. For all these individuals, the emotional burden is something no one should bear alone. One of the best ways to cope with the emotional struggle of ALS is by connecting with ..read more

It’s summertime. It’s hot. Kids of all ages are easily bored. But let’s look at that same factual statement and add a little extra to it- “extra” is a word my family uses a lot, especially with me! It’s summertime, and a summer escape from the heat, and from boredom can be much easier than we think.  There are so many ways that we can focus on fun and create our own adventures!  Of course, traveling is something that many families do, and just because ALS is a part of that experience doesn’t mean it can’t happen.  In fact, you can visit the links below for many ALS traveling ti ..read more

Matt and Laurel Cluthe prepare to take a family road trip from Kansas City to watch a Houston Astros game at Minute Maid Park. The city and team carry many memories for the couple. Both are native Houstonians and diehard Astros fans. From attending games as children with their families, to making matching Astros hats during one of their first dates, to bringing their recently adopted baby girl to spring training, this team has been a thread in both of their stories. As they make the drive, there’s even greater meaning to this trip as they are travelling for Lou Gehrig Day. While the Astros h ..read more

Who am I? Have you ever found yourself stopping to ask yourself this question? What am I here for; what am I supposed to be doing on this earth-and CAN I even do it? Imposter Syndrome is not a new discussion. In fact, it dates to the late 1970’s, and yet of course, is still very relevant today.  We most often hear it discussed in professional networks and focused on careers. The questions and feelings involved are related to individual skills and qualifications. Am I really qualified to do this? Soon, someone will discover that I am not good enough to be in this role…the anxiety and sel ..read more