#ALS AWARENESS #LouGehrigsDisease #PARKINSONS

Via CURE FOR ALS : Raise a Glass to Kick ALS’s Ass was a terrific party! Host Becky Kidd’s goal for the evening was to thank the Emory ALS Clinic team for their dedication to help her and others living with ALS manage the disease and appreciate every day. A crowd of 150 came out to the Famous Pub in Atlanta for the event. While fundraising wasn’t the main task of the evening, a raffle and donations resulted in nearly $4,000 being raised to benefit the Emory ALS Center.

Becky kicked off the evening by welcoming everyone and showing a thank you film that was a compilation of videos sent in by pALS (people with ALS) and friends. Comedian, James Rodatus was up next and had everyone laughing for the next 25 minutes. Also living with ALS, James quickly made all comfortable with realizing that humor plays a big part in life – even when life is hard. He is like many others I see living with ALS who keep a positive attitude and live life to the fullest each and every day.

When James completed his act, local band Secret Sauce took the stage for the first of three music sets. It didn’t take long for the dance floor to become full as the happy crowd got into the music from the 80’s, 90’s and today. Between sets, Dr. Jonathan Glass, Director of the Emory ALS Center, and Dr. Christina Fournier, Emory ALS Center Neurologist, drew the raffle winners and received well-deserved raised glass toasts from the attendees.

Becky shares, “We call ourselves team 5 Smooth Stones for the story of David & Goliath.  I met my Goliath when I was diagnosed with ALS in January 2012.   ALS is a part of my life, but I refuse to allow it become my life. Every day for all of us is a gift, an honor and opportunity to live with joy...ALS does not have to change that. We will live with Courage, Confidence, Preparation and Trust until Victory has been achieved."

Good friends of Becky’s are riding as Team 5 Smooth Stones in the Snake Gap Time Trials. The Snake Gap Time Trials is a time trial series event along the Pinhoti Trail through National Forest Lands in Dalton, GA. It takes place on January 3, February 3, and March 7, 2015. Team 5 Smooth Stones has been fundraising during the series in honor of Becky. With one more ride left in the series they are half way to their goal of raising $5,000 for the Emory ALS Center. If you would like to help them reach their goal, you can make a donation at www.crowdrise.com/5smoothstones. ;

To find out more about the Emory ALS Center visit www.als.emory.edu.