Thank you for helping the Colorado Cosgrove's reach our Walk ALS Denver fundraising goal. 

Walk ALS raises funds to support those affected by ALS and to spread awareness of the urgency to find treatments and a cure. Our family has been impacted by this disease that has robbed us of a husband, father, grandfather and friend. 

Carl's story is told by his daughter, Karla Cosgrove, as to how it impacted our family directly: 

I moved my mom and dad to Colorado in June of 2023. It was hard for both of them because they had to leave their beautiful home in Phoenix in exchange for a senior living facility in Castle Rock, CO. Both my father and mother were living completely independently at this time. Dad drove, did the shopping and made weekly visits to the house for family dinners. I hoped they would like it here. I was most worried about dad because he was dead against the move. But lo and behold, he loved it. He found a nice group of friends to play cards with and there was never a dull moment until he began falling. At first we thought it was dehydration, the altitude, and/or de-conditioning but when it continued we became very concerned. In September 2023 he complained of left arm numbness. 

His doctors thought he had a stroke so we obtained an MRI of the brain but it did not show a stroke. The numbness then spread to his left leg. By Thanksgiving he was using a walker and by Christmas he could no longer stand so I took him to Sky Ridge Medical Center. They thought he had “post stroke syndrome” because he had a stroke in 2013. They put him into intensive rehabilitation but he only got worse. We had an appointment with a neurologist in December but since he was hospitalized, it was moved to the end of January. 

When we finally had the appointment the doctor took one look at him and said he had “motor neuropathy” and asked that we come back the following Tuesday for testing. The test results came back, and the neurologist said the words that nobody would ever want to hear: "You have ALS."

Dad served in the United States Air Force for 20 years and is a proud USAF veteran. He was stationed in Thailand and Vietnam where he was exposed to Agent Orange and other toxic substances. We were lucky enough to get into the Rocky Mountain Regional VA ALS Clinic. The incredible assistance the VA and his team of doctors has given us has made this journey a little bit easier. I tried to move mom and dad to assisted living but no facility would take them due to dad’s ALS diagnosis. We hired caregivers to help us until he could no longer bear his own weight.

July 1, 2024, just a little over one year from the time he moved to Colorado, dad had to be admitted to a skilled nursing facility. He has lost the use of both arms, both legs and is now losing his voice. The most difficult aspect of this journey has been the fact that there is no cure for ALS and that dad will continue to decline until he can no longer eat or breathe. 

September 24, 2024, dad passed away. 

That is why my family and I are walking and raising money in support of ALS research. We acknowledge there are so many different conditions that impact so many people, but if you are able to donate even a small amount  is sincerely appreciated. No one should have to live like someone diagnosed with ALS. It is a very mean disease, with no cure that robbed us of our father, grandfather, husband and society of a great man. Any donation helps, over the past two years significant progress has been made with ALS research and treatment but we are still far from a cure. 

​What is Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) "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 a person with ALS averages 2 to 5 years from the time of diagnosis. ALS can strike anyone, and presently there is no known cause or cure.

Please consider walking with me or sponsoring me. With your help, we will be able to make a difference in the lives of people affected by this disease.