Thank you for helping us reach our fund raising goal! Together we can make a difference in the lives of those affected by Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Team Dave Yates is committed to raising money to support people in our community with ALS and spread awareness of the urgency to find treatment and a cure. Please consider joining our team in the Walk to Defeat ALS® or choose a team member from the list and donate to our cause.
Why We're Walking
A little more than 20 years ago, a beloved, young high school teacher from Solon, David Yates, was diagnosed with ALS. To those that knew Dave, either as a friend, teacher, coworker or father, the way he dealt with this disease came as no surprise. The power of the human spirit to overcome the physical limitations inflicted by ALS was constantly demonstrated by Dave right up until his death in 2000. His inability to talk was just an obstacle in getting his message to us. His inability to write did not stop him from planning his family's future. His inability to walk did not keep him from encouraging and coaching those around him to play soccer, swim or run marathons. He was simultaneously an inspiration and a reminder of how cruel this disease can be.
Unfortunately, there are hundreds of stories similar to Dave's right here in Northern Ohio. Our team is walking to not only celebrate and remember Dave Yates' life, but to raise money for those families similarly afflicted right here in this area until a cure can be found.
Why We Need Your Help
Often referred to as Lou Gehrig's Disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, fatal neuromuscular disease that slowly robs the body of its ability to walk, speak, swallow and breathe. The life expectancy of an ALS patient averages 2 to 5 years from the time of diagnosis.
Every 90 minutes a person in this country is diagnosed with ALS and every 90 minutes another person will lose their battle against this disease. ALS occurs throughout the world with no racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic boundaries.
This crippling disease can strike anyone. Presently there is no known cause of the disease yet it still costs loved ones an average of $200,000 a year to provide the care ALS patients need.
How You Can Help
The ongoing health and safety concerns of the pandemic have resulted in in us once again deferring our "Big Walk" of past years, where over 1,000 people have walked in Berea to help defeat ALS. Instead, like last year, we're going to do, literally hundreds of "Mini-Walks" where individuals or small groups will walk on Sunday September 12 wherever they can - in parks, neighborhoods, beaches, around your house, on a treadmill.
Team Dave Yates will be walking beginning at 10:00 am at Bonnie Park in the Metroparks in Strongsville. Distance can be as far as you'd like to walk! We'll have some refreshments and promise we will respect anyone's mask and social distancing preferences. If you would like to join us, just click on the button ("Join Our Team") to the right and see how easy it is.
Whether you can join us or not, please consider donating to help us defeat ALS. Just click on the "Donate" button to the right and support yourself, Team Dave Yates, or another team member. It all helps no matter which one you choose. And please ask your friends and family to donate! Please spread the word and see how many of your contacts can help out by donating to our cause. Post this link to your Facebook (or other social media) page! And this website makes it super easy to contact everyone you want to reach out to all at once.
Team Dave Yates has an aggressive goal of $7,000. But with all of the people whose lives Dave touched, all the past supporters of the Y5K, and others who may not have known Dave but care about helping to fight ALS, just reaching out to their friends and family, we can do it and be one of the top fundraising teams again in this year's walk! Thanks for your help as we Walk to Defeat ALS!
