Hearing the words "ALS" in relation to my beautiful wife, Laurie, shattered our world. It hasn’t just changed Laurie’s life; it has sent a shockwave through our entire family and everyone who loves her.

To our boys—Ryan, Cameron, Liam, and Holden—Laurie is everything. She is the absolute heart of our home. If you know her, you know her radiant warmth, her infectious laugh, and that lightning-fast wit that can light up any room. She is the glue that holds our favorite memories together. Now, we are walking a path we never saw coming, facing a new reality that is completely overwhelming, terrifying, and yet, deeply transformative.

Watching our boys process this has been one of the hardest parts. They are incredibly tender-hearted and resilient, but they are wrestling with a heavy mix of confusion and heartbreak. Yet, I am also watching them discover a profound, unexpected strength. They are learning to lean on each other and talk about their fears in ways kids their age rarely have to. We are taking it one day at a time, just trying to keep our home a safe place for them to feel whatever they need to feel and to find comfort in one another.

The ripple effect of Laurie's illness goes far beyond our front door. Our extended family and friends—people who have always turned to Laurie for advice, guidance, or simply a good laugh—are hurting alongside us. But they have also stepped up in ways that leave us speechless, rallying around our family and wrapping us in a humbling level of love and support.

Walking this road has made one thing very clear to us: we have to talk about ALS. People need to see not just the physical toll it takes on the brave individuals fighting it, but the quiet, unseen emotional battles fought by the families standing beside them. That’s why we are stepping up to participate in Walk ALS Georgia. For us, this isn't just a walk. It is a deeply personal mission to honor Laurie, to bring our village together, and to shine a real, honest light on what living with ALS means.

We can't fight this alone. By sharing our family's story, we hope to amplify the voices of everyone impacted by this relentless disease. I am inviting you to stand with Laurie, with me, and with our boys. Please join us in this mission—to walk, to raise awareness, and to be the community we all need for the difficult days ahead.

With deepest gratitude,

Ethan Hostetler

When someone you love gets diagnosed with ALS, the first thing you ask is what can I do to help? For many people like me, the answer is to participate in Walk ALS Georgia, which raises awareness and money to support Georgians living with ALS.

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.

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.