Caregiver's National Quilt Contest Supports ALS Association's Global Resear...( The goal of ...),Health

The goal of the “Hopes and Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS” contest is to increase awareness about the disease, raise funds for The Association’s global research program through an online raffle and auction of the quilts, and “warm the hearts and laps of ALS patients.”

Calabasas Hills, Calif. (Vocus) November 5, 2009 -- As every caregiver who helps take care of someone living with ALS knows, leading anything resembling a normal life is nearly impossible.

Kathy Thompson of Virginia Beach, Va., believes in accomplishing the impossible and has done so on numerous occasions for The ALS Association.

A mother, entrepreneur and advocate for The Association, Thompson not only is helping her daughter-in-law Joy Thompson take care of her son, 35-year-old Josh Thompson, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2007, she also is trying to make a difference in the lives of tens of thousands of people just like him.

Thompson has launched a new fundraising campaign during National Family Caregivers Month. The goal of the “Hopes and Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS” contest is to increase awareness about the disease, raise funds for The Association’s global research program through an online raffle and auction of the quilts, and “warm the hearts and laps of ALS patients.”

The Thompsons have received help from patient and family service staff members of the DC/MD/VA Chapter.

“We are so thankful to Kathy Thompson and her family for all they have done to raise awareness of ALS,” said Ken Nicholls, executive director of the DC/MD/VA Chapter of The Association. “This campaign will not only help fund important research, it will be a continued source of warmth for our patients. Quilters are a caring gr
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