My name is David Cadillon, and I’m running the 2026 Chicago Marathon with Team ALS to support people living with ALS and to help push forward the research that can change their lives.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, fatal neuromuscular disease that slowly robs the body of its ability to walk, speak, swallow, and breathe. The life expectancy of a person with ALS averages 2 to 5 years from the time of diagnosis. 

But even as the body grows weaker, the mind stays sharp. People with ALS think, feel, hope, and dream just like all of us. Right now, there is no cure. We don’t yet know exactly what causes ALS, and the treatments that exist can only slow it down or make life a little more comfortable. But that is exactly why your support matters so much. Every donation helps fund new research. Every contribution brings us closer to better treatments—and one day, a cure. Today, we have the chance to make a real difference. For the families fighting ALS, for the loved ones caring for them, and for the scientists searching for answers, your generosity offers something powerful: hope. Thank you for standing with us, for giving, and for believing that together, we can change the future for those living with ALS.