When someone you love is diagnosed with ALS, the first thing you ask is, “What can I do to help?” For me, the answer is to walk in the fight to find a cure.

This year, I walk for John Conley, a dear friend who was much like a second father to me. Mr. Conley was funny, loving, kind, and we were always playing pranks on each other. He brought so much laughter and love into my life, and losing him to ALS is something I will carry with me forever.

I also walk for Kay Albright, whose daughter is one of my very best friends. Kay was truly one of the kindest souls you could ever meet. She fought ALS with incredible strength and courage, but ultimately lost her battle. I walk in her memory and for the people who loved her.

And this year, I walk in honor of my second cousin, who spent years as a DEA agent fighting to protect and serve others. Now, he is facing a battle greater than any he has ever fought: an ALS diagnosis of his own. He has spent his life fighting for others, and now it is our turn to fight for him.

These are not just names to me. They are people I love. They are the reason this fight is so incredibly personal.

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 affect anyone, and while there have been important advancements in ALS research, we still don't know what causes it. An ALS diagnosis remains devastating because there is no cure.

I am walking so that one day, when someone hears the words, “You have ALS,” it no longer means a terminal diagnosis. I am walking so that people living with ALS today know they are not alone. I am walking to help ensure that when they need support, they can find it through ALS United of Georgia. And most importantly, I am walking to give people with ALS and their families something they desperately need: hope.

You may not know someone with ALS, but you know me. And I am asking you to help me honor John, Kay, my cousin, and the countless other families whose lives have been changed by this disease.

Will you please consider supporting my walk? You can join our team or make a donation to support our team. Every step, every dollar, and every act of support brings us closer to a world without ALS.

Until we find a cure, we walk for those we've lost, we walk for those who are fighting, and we walk for those who will come after them.

Help me make every step count.