In October of 2020, Cathy was diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), which is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that weakens muscles and limits physical function. The news of her diagnosis came as a shock to all of us given how active and physically fit she is, but to no surprise, she has handled this journey with grace, an unwavering positive attitude, and an even greater zest for life. Cathy is ready for a fight - and that's where we need your help!

For most ALS patients, the disease ultimately confines the patient to a wheelchair and requires around the clock support. The care they need combined with the prescribed medication can exceed $100,000 annually and requires a strong pipeline of funds to ensure access to this heightened quality of care. Any donation amount helps lighten the financial burden, and we are so appreciative of the generosity from our friends and family.

Please read below for three ways in which you can help Cathy in her fight!

1) Join Us at the Rally 4 Nally

To kick off our fundraising efforts, we're thrilled to announce the first annual Rally 4 Nally taking place on January 8th, 2022:

Take the Plunge: The day will begin by plunging (or dipping) into the cold South Boston shoreline to make our "splash" in promoting awareness and support for the fight against ALS. The plunge will be a tribute to Pete Frates in an effort to honor his ALS legacy and continue the incredible momentum he generated through his fundraising efforts. Registration will kick off at the Carson Beach bathhouse at 12pm, with the plunge taking place at approximately 1pm. Both plungers and spectators are welcome, and hilarious outfits are highly encouraged!

Attend the Reception: Whether you're plunging into the harbor or not, we encourage you to join us afterwards at Venezia in Dorchester (under 10 minutes down the road) for a fun and casual reception with food, cocktails, raffles, games, and more! The doors will open at 2pm, and plenty of parking is available (if you don't want to make the swim across the harbor).

To participate in either or both events:

1. Click the Donate & Tickets button above and select the events you'd like to join.
2. In addition to purchasing tickets, you'll also have the option to include a donation with your registration.
3. Please note that if you would like your ticket purchase / donation to count towards your fundraising efforts, you will need to set up a fundraising campaign before purchasing your ticket.

2) Help Us Raise Funds

Whether you're looking for an extra cold shower in January or thinking of Cathy from afar, there are a number of ways to raise funds to support Cathy:

Start a Fundraising Campaign: Whether you’re attending the event or not, the more the merrier when it comes to fundraising!

1. Click the Fundraise button under the Nally picture above to create your own fundraising page, or you can create or join a team with other participants to raise funds together.
2. You’ll be able to set a personal or team goal and share a dedicated link with friends to have them support your page and compete against other teams.

Donate to Rally 4 Nally: If you would like to donate without fundraising: 

1. Click the Donate & Tickets button above and select "No thanks, I'd just like to donate."
2. You'll then have the option of sponsoring an Individual/Team or donating directly to our fund.

Donate to the Silent Auction: We'll also be hosting a silent auction as part of the reception, though unfortunately our artwork from elementary school hasn't appreciated in value as expected. If there are any items or experiences that you would like to contribute to the auction, please email us at [email protected]!

3) Help Us Raise Awareness

When she's not cooking up a feast for her kids each Wednesday, Cathy has made it her mission to raise awareness for ALS and pass legislation to ensure that future generations will never have to suffer through this horrible disease:

Support Cathy's ALS Advocacy: One of the bills that Cathy is working to pass is the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act (ACT for ALS), which will allocate $100M each of the next five years to make it easier to develop new ALS treatments while expanding access to these therapies for ALS patients. 

**UPDATE** We're thrilled to share that ACT for ALS was officially signed into law by the President on December 23rd! Thank you to everyone who helped advocate for this critical legislation, and please visit this link for additional ways to take action.

Share Cathy’s Story: One of the groups leading the charge in ALS advocacy is I Am ALS, and they recently spotlighted Cathy’s fight against ALS. She also partnered with two other pALS (persons with ALS) to create the below video highlighting their battle against this disease. We hope this gives a little peek into what makes Cathy so special to so many of us, and we encourage you to share this story with others to continue to spread her powerful message.

Thank you for supporting Cathy, thank you for fighting ALS, and here's to finding a cure!

-Cathy's Crew