PLEASE!!!! WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!!! We ALL NEED to do ALL WE CAN to help find a cure! This is an unusual way for me to start a letter to you, but I am hoping it gets your attention! As you may already know, 95 percent of people diagnosed with the dreadful disease called ALS, die within three to five years! The point? I am getting scared! It was four years ago, on March 14, 2003 that the man I love and YOU all love — Mike Wright — was diagnosed with this tragic disease. For all of you who are reading this, who I know love and care about Mike, I am asking for your help. We MUST act NOW! We ALL NEED to do ALL WE CAN to help find a cure! Every single day, I watch Mike pray silently. He has his eyes closed and sits with his hands folded. He sits there for a long time. I don't know everything that he prays for. I often wonder what is going through his head and all of what he is asking for in his prayers. But there is one thing I DO KNOW he prays for specifically every single day. He asks the Lord that there may be “a cure found in my time.” I wanted to share this with you and I ask you to help, in any way humanly possible, to see that Mike's prayer becomes a reality! Recently, at our company's national convention, called Salute, there was a Hope 4 Mike luncheon. It was sad but, in a unique way, it was also wonderful. Through all of your help in fundraising, we were able to give away tens of thousands of dollars to various organizations that are on a quest to find a cure. Prior to the event, I asked Mike who would he like to make donations to? He responded by saying, “Whoever is the closest to finding a cure.” Former Chicago Bear, Keith Van Horne, was there to accept a check on behalf of the Les Turner Foundation. We also gave money to Northwestern for research. We gave a check to ALS TDF, a foundation on the East Coast that was started several years ago by Jamie Heywood. Jamie's brother, Stephen, was diagnosed with ALS in 1998. Jamie, having no experience with anything remotely like this, has now founded a world-class research institute. He, along with more than 30 research doctors and dedicated staff, has a mission and passion every single day to find a cure. So very unfortunate, last November, Stephen passed away at the young age of 37. It is too late for Stephen. I do not want it to be too late for Mike Wright. We ALL NEED to do ALL WE CAN to help find a cure! Various people spoke at Salute. There were others who received donations from Hope 4 Mike. But the most special moment of the luncheon is when our sons, Brandon, Bryan and Blaine, got up on stage and together, read a speech called, “My Dad.” In short, they shared memories, funny stories, and how Mike has always been there for them. They told everyone what an extraordinary father Mike is! They spoke of how much they love him and how they HOPE a cure can be found. It was quite moving, to say the least. I was, and am, SO PROUD of all three of them! Even our little Blaine spoke! This is their father, whom they love so much, who has a terminal disease. Please ... We ALL NEED to do ALL WE CAN to help find a cure! Saturday, September 8, will be the 5th annual ALS Walk 4 Life in which our family will participate. I can't begin to tell you how very much it means to Mike to see all of you at this walk. The love, support and encouragement he feels from every single one of you, well, let's just say, I believe it is something that carries him, along with his faith. None of us can even start to imagine what it feels like to have to walk in Mike's shoes. What I do know is that by joining him in the walk, showing him your warm and friendly smile, giving him a great big hug and by helping raise funds for ALS, you are helping out where you can. So many people ask us, “How can we help?” This is how you can help! If there is any way possible that you have the day open, I invite you to please join us on Chicago's lakefront for the short two-mile walk. It's usually, God-willing, a beautiful day. And, it's a beautiful day in many ways. Please come. Please come for Mike. We ALL NEED to do ALL WE CAN to help find a cure! With Love & Blessings, Becky along with Mike, Brandon and Karrie, Bryan and Blaine And with the words we try and live by ... “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 Donate online: Visit the HelpAmerica Foundation. Got to: Hope 4 Mike > Make a Donation. Mail donations to: AtHome America 5625 W 115th St. Alsip, IL 60803