This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Hoffman Family of Deerfield to Honor 10th Anniversary of Loved One's Passing at the 12th Annual Les Turner ALS Walk4Life

Ten years ago the Hoffman family of Deerfield lost a truly special loved one, Harriet Hoffman, to ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. To honor her memory and the anniversary of her passing, the Hoffmans, along with relatives and friends from the Chicago area and well beyond, will participate in the Les Turner ALS Walk4Life on September 22 at Soldier Field in Chicago.

The Hoffman’s team, “Thumbs Up for Harriet,” will join nearly 6,000 people at the ALS Walk4Life. As one of the largest gatherings of the ALS community, the ALS Walk4Life is a celebration of hope, courage and caring. The event will be hosted by meteorologist Phil Schwarz of ABC7 and Kathy Hart of The Mix 101.9FM and will feature a 2 mile walk along Chicago’s lakefront and through Soldier Field, as well as music, entertainment, food and children’s activities.

“My family and I know firsthand how important the Les Turner ALS Foundation is to those facing the unique challenges brought on by ALS,” said Ken Hoffman, team captain and a member of the Les Turner ALS Foundation board of directors. “Through the ALS Walk4Life our extended family and friends can honor the 10th anniversary of my mother’s death alongside others who have an understanding of what we endured, and also fundraise for critical Foundation programs.”

Find out what's happening in Deerfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In 2001, Harriet and her husband were enjoying retirement in Phoenix when she began experiencing breathing issues. She saw a pulmonologist, underwent numerous tests and sought additional input from a physician at the Mayo Clinic, Eventually, after excluding other conditions, a physician diagnosed Harriet with ALS. The family was devastated, but not until she moved back to Chicago and her children witnessed the daily impact of the disease, did they truly grasp the reality of the situation.

“We watched over two years as my mom slowly lost various physical abilities; she went from walking to using a cane to using a walker and eventually relying upon a wheelchair,” explained Ken. “But even as the disease robbed her of these functions she remained positive and never shied away from the chance to be a part of family events and occasions with her friends.”

Find out what's happening in Deerfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Harriet’s three sons and their families rallied together to provide support and care to their parents. Having sought medical advice for his own injury from college friend Scott Heller, MD, at Northwestern, Ken was able to connect his parents with Dr. Heller and the team at the Les Turner/Lois Insolia ALS Center. In addition, the Hoffmans utilized services offered through the Les Turner ALS Foundation. 

Throughout her illness, Harriet maintained an upbeat attitude. When Harriet was no longer able to speak, she often gave the “thumbs up” sign to indicate that all was well, which is the reference for their team moniker. Even as she lost the ability to speak, walk and eat, Harriet wanted to enjoy life and engage with her children and their families.

“We are grateful to families such as the Hoffmans for their longtime, continued support of the ALS Walk4Life and often hear from patients and families that they look forward to this event each year,” said Wendy Abrams, executive director of the Les Turner ALS Foundation.

ALS Walk4Life

In its 11-year history, the ALS Walk4Life has collectively raised nearly $8 million. Individuals are provided with fundraising tools to help them plan letter writing campaigns, host special events and secure support from local businesses.

Approximately 250 teams are expected to participate in the ALS Walk4Life; some teams are as large as 200 people, others are as close knit as a few. The event draws people from throughout the country, all of whom have teamed up for the fight against ALS.  

While there is no registration fee, the Les Turner ALS Foundation encourages participants to raise a minimum of $100, and those who reach or surpass this goal will receive an ALS Walk4Life T-shirt. Registration will open at 9:30 a.m. and ALS Walk4Life Opening Ceremony will begin at 10:40 a.m. The walk will start at 11:00 a.m. Participants are encouraged to pre-register at www.alswalk4life.org.   

This year’s ALS Walk4Life sponsors include: ABC7 Chicago, The MIX 101.9FM, Abt, American Chartered Bank, B&B Catering, Blick Art Materials, Comcast, Corner Bakery, The Private Bank, Stabil and US Foods.

ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a terminal neuromuscular disease that attacks a person’s muscles, gradually robbing them of their ability to walk, speak, eat and breathe, yet usually keeping their mind intact. At any given time, approximately 35,000 people in the United States are living with ALS. Currently there is no cure. 

Les Turner ALS Foundation

Founded in 1977, the Les Turner ALS Foundation is one of the nation’s preeminent organizations dedicated to the treatment and elimination of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).  The Foundation is affiliated with Northwestern Medicine where it funds two research laboratories and a multi-disciplinary clinical program. The Foundation’s patient services include, support group meetings, professional in-home consultation services, communications and durable medical equipment programs, respite care grants, and educational activities. The Foundation serves approximately 90 percent of the ALS population in the Chicago area.

For more information, call 847-679-3311 or visit www.lesturnerals.org.   





We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?