Whether it is cycling in the Tri-State Trek, 270-miles from Boston, MA to Greenwich, CT, running in the TCS New York City Marathon, or running through the wild trails at a Ragnar for Research event, there are many events that require extreme determination and grit that all raise money for ALS research at the ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI).

Doing any one of these events may seem crazy to most, and the only thing that could be crazier would be doing all three. Well, then our friend Auburn is the craziest person you could ever meet because that is exactly what he will have done by the end of 2019. Auburn runs and rides in honor of his brother, Carnell, who was diagnosed with ALS in March of 2015 and passed in April 2017.

We asked him what keeps him motivated while training for, participating in and fundraising for these three major events – here is what he said:

Most days are normal. We go and do whatever we want. Then a day comes that changes EVERYTHING, that day is when you hear “you have ALS.” We had taken the Ice Bucket Challenge before, laughed and moved on. Since 2015 we no longer laughed. I wish I could say I’ve always been passionate about ALS but I have not. Like most, ALS was something I knew little about until my brother was diagnosed. Then ALS stole my brother and with that everything changed.

I was introduced to the Tri-State Trek by my friend Katie who had lost her husband to ALS just a few months prior to my brother passing. It was something I’d never tried before. I thought I would ride a bike for 270-miles, raise some money and go on my merry way. Not exactly. Turns out, once you meet some of the most amazing people, all working toward a common goal, it’s hard to let it go. So in the past few months, I’ve put a team together to run a Ragnar Trail race in Texas and have also been accepted to run for ALS TDI in the TCS New York City Marathon in November.

So you ask, why do I run? Why not?

Why not run, bike, and raise money for ALS TDI? Why not try to cure a disease that destroys lives?

At times it may hurt in places I didn’t know could hurt, but I know sooner or later it will pass. I’m reminded that those living with ALS don’t get the benefit of knowing it will pass and I can’t begin to imagine what they go through daily. So I will gladly put my body out there if it means getting closer to a cure.

In the back of my mind, I think what if it’s me next time, or worse, what if it’s one of my boys next time? This “what if” runs through my head daily because whether it is me or not, we know for sure there will be a next one.

I want to do everything I can to help those who eventually won’t be able to run, bike, hold their loved ones, write their name, and walk down the aisle to give their daughter away. All this was taken from my brother and many others.

This is why I can’t sit back and hope someone steps up. I will do whatever, whenever, as long as I can in hopes that soon we can all read – “FOUND: a Cure for ALS!”

Through ALS TDI we are taking the fight to ALS. Your help and donations are greatly needed. We HAVE to find a cure for this fatal disease.

-Auburn