Carli Young’s mother was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis [ALS], better known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease in February of 2017. It’s a progressive neuro-degenerative disease that affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. ALS has no cure and very few drugs to help slow the progression.
“Diagnosis day was the day I lost my mother. It was a long time coming. She had been showing signs of the disease for about 2 years prior. She had been avoiding that doctor’s visit with hope of not having to face the inevitable,” Young said. “Sadly, some forms of ALS are hereditary and ours is. Her mother had passed from ALS and so had her older brother.”
The Young’s now have four family members left in their generation who could possibly carry the terrible disease. The Young’s want to raise awareness and raise money for families like their own who need caregivers, medicine and equipment.
“Every year we participate in the ALS Walk. It started with just my aunt and cousins. We added my sister and I, plus a few more. Team David Calve was a team of about 8. Until last year,” Young said. “We raised over $7,000 in just a few short weeks and added over 50 people to our team. Our team photo went from a close up of 8 to a full span of the Point Fountain with almost 60 people – my mom and the original team front and center.”
When Young’s mother passed she started a Facebook Fundraiser with the goal of raising $1,000.00 In just one short week the had risen $3,000.00, plus donations to the University of Pittsburgh, Center for ALS Research.
“People from the ALS Association of Western PA were kind enough to call and congratulate me and thank me,” Young said. “These people thanked me when my family and I couldn’t thank them enough for everything they’d done for us.”
As of right now team David Calve has raised $5,410.If people want they can donate and join team David Calve for the walk. The walk is at Point Park in Pittsburgh on August 25. Registration starts at 8 am and the walk starts at 10 am. The David Calve team had a website that people can visit, donate or register to join the team.
“I want to be able to donate more – give back to the ALS Association of Western PA who gave so much to us and be able to fund more research for a cure,” Young said. “We will be selling Young’s Custard Stand t-shirt’s in remembrance of my mom. We have had an outpouring of kindness and support from our customers at Young’s. My mom loved her customers at Young’s and her patients at Dr. Barnes’ Dentist Office. We knew people from all over the area would want to join in our movement and help our cause.”
The shirts are $15 and $5 of each sale will be donated to the ALS Association. People can click here for a link to purchase the shirts online . The online market for people to purchase shirts from Venezie Sporting Goods is open until July 1st. People can either choose to have them shipped for an added cost or can choose to pick up from Carli Young for free. When the online store closes Venezie’s will then make all the shirts ordered and ship them or Young will pick them up and distribute them from Young’s Custard Stand around the middle of July.
Venezie Sporting Goods should keep the online store permanently open!