BETTY AND SHANNON
THEY HAVE CONFRONTED THE SOURCE, INFORMED THE PUBLIC, AND BROUGHT HELP TO FAMILIES – ALL OUT OF LOVE AND CONCERN FOR THEIR FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS.
Betty and Shannon live in Rogers, Arkansas, and were nominated by a friend, Kim. Betty and Shannon's friend, Sue, was diagnosed with ALS (formerly known as Lou Gehrig's disease) in 2002. Kim says, "Sue's world changed, in the span of one day, one diagnosis, but one hope for others who would come behind her. In 2006, Sue asked five faithful friends to accompany her on a journey and the quest she had laid out. Her idea was to get through the rest of her days and the challenges ahead by serving others in the Northwest Arkansas area, and eventually the state, with information, awareness, and resources of the debilitating disease."
What began as a basic plan to build awareness through a 'Walk to Defeat ALS' - the first in the state - grew into a full-blown mission to set up ALS chapters and events across the state and help others in this process. Kim says, "Sue had the joy of seeing the first walk and the outpouring of support from the NWAR area. She lost her 5-year battle with ALS just a few months later, but her vision continued through these good friends, co-founders of the ALS Association - Arkansas Chapter."
Kim says, "There was every opportunity for these ladies to suit up for tennis, attend the latest shindig at the club, or take their grands to a major league ball game and forget the effort, but they never lost sight of the original commitment. They have confronted the source, informed the public, and brought help to families – all out of love and concern for their fellow human beings."
What began as a basic plan to build awareness through a 'Walk to Defeat ALS' - the first in the state - grew into a full-blown mission to set up ALS chapters and events across the state and help others in this process. Kim says, "Sue had the joy of seeing the first walk and the outpouring of support from the NWAR area. She lost her 5-year battle with ALS just a few months later, but her vision continued through these good friends, co-founders of the ALS Association - Arkansas Chapter."
Kim says, "There was every opportunity for these ladies to suit up for tennis, attend the latest shindig at the club, or take their grands to a major league ball game and forget the effort, but they never lost sight of the original commitment. They have confronted the source, informed the public, and brought help to families – all out of love and concern for their fellow human beings."