Josh and his son, Wyatt, in 2007 enjoying some time together.

Josh and his bride Joy, shown together on their wedding day May 15, 2006.

Josh & Joy

A person under the age of 40 affected by this disease is rare to say the least. That is why for so long, Josh Thompson and his family contacted doctors around the world and traveled throughout the United States, thinking his illness must be a result of a surfing or snowboarding accident, eating fish full of metals, or something – anything – but certainly he could not be the one in more than 200,000 under the age of 40 (he was 30 at the time) with Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Josh and his family stayed in denial until recently. Josh is very fortunate to have a large and loving family and an abundance of friends offering their support because not all patients do. Because this illness requires constant care, family members often have to quit their jobs, sell their homes, and rely upon public assistance to survive. The disease is crippling financially, emotionally and physically to families.

The ALS Association – DC/MD/VA Chapter raise monies through events and contributions to both assist families in need and to further research! One event is their “WALK TO DEFEAT ALS ™”. Josh is not in need personally financially – he is in need emotionally and wants to participate in the “WALK TO DEFEAT ALS ™” and hopes his friends and family (all of which have asked repeatedly “what can we do?”) will join him on Sunday, October 19, 2008.

One hundred percent (100%) all money raised on October19 will go to the ALS Association – DC/MD/VA Chapter to support programs for patients living with ALS and to further drug therapies and stem cell research, etc