When someone you love gets diagnosed with ALS, your world is forever turned upside down. My husband, Fred Pioso, lost his five year battle with ALS on August 27, 2007. Even though it's been 18 years, the devastation and impact of this disease will remain with us for the rest of our lives. 

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neuromuscular disease that slowly robs a person of the ability to walk, speak, swallow, and breathe. It can strike anyone and, although there has been a lot of advancements in ALS research, we still don?t know what causes it. An ALS diagnosis is fatal because there is no cure.

This is our 17th year participating in the walk, and we continue to walk and raise money for the ALS Association because the care we received was invaluable to us and we know that they help countless families in the same way.  Speaking from first hand experience - the proceeds raised from the walk go directly to the families of those diagnosed to provide life changing equipment and support as well as fund research.

I am walking so that, one day, when Georgians hear the words, ?You have ALS,? it will no longer mean that they likely will die within two to five years. I am walking so that Georgians living with ALS today know that they are not alone. I?m walking to assure that when they need help, they will be able to get it from ALS United of Georgia. I am walking to give them hope.

You may not know anyone with ALS, but you do know me, and I am asking for your support. Will you please consider joining me to make strides in the fight against ALS? You can join our team or make a gift to support our team. Either way, with your help, we can enhance the lives of people living with ALS, every day until we find a cure.