A Brother's Love

Many of you know that the Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS was born out of the love of a mother who knew that the only way another mother would never face the devastation of ALS - Lou Gehrig's Disease would be to find a cure for this 100-year old disease.  While Kathy Thompson and her staff at Quilters Dream Batting were creating the Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS to honor her oldest son Josh, her youngest son Chris was also determined to raise awareness about Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Chris and Kathy Thompson
 

Chris and Josh Thompson are very close.  When Chris learned of his brother's diagnosis he worked with his friends to create what has turned out to be one of, if not the, largest walks for ALS in the country.  It's called the JT Walk and this Sunday, October 6, thousands of people will gather on the Virginia Beach Boardwalk to raise funds for ALS Research and provide services to ALS patients.

In the last 5 years over 30,000 people have walked to stomp out ALS.

Team Leaders recruit new members and ask friends and family to sponsor their walk on the Virginia Beach boardwalk.  Chris and Kathy have a team if you would like to make a donation.

Speaking of donations, August 1 marked the official beginning of the 5th Annual Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS and your boxes of quilts have started to arrive.  We're shaking things up this year and have new prizes for some favorite categories and have changed one category completely.  We will visit all the categories in the coming weeks. Here's a look at the new Entry Form cover.

 

While people all over the Hampton Roads/Tidewater Virginia area embrace Chris and his older brother Josh this weekend, you have equally embraced their mom Kathy these last four years.  As a result, you have provided renewed strength to Kathy who continues to fight for a cure.

 



 

Wishing you a peaceful and safe weekend!

 

 

Your Thankful Hopes & Dreams Coordinator