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The Journey of Hope and The Joe Rank ALS Fund

In March of 2002, Joe Rank was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.

ALS kills motor neurons.  While the brain itself remains unaffected, the motor neurons that connect the brain to muscles degenerate and the result is progressive loss of voluntary muscle control.  ALS affects each victim in different places and at different paces - Joe lost his speech and ability to eat early on - but the trend is almost always the same.  There is no known cure for ALS.

There is, however, reason for hope.

Progress is being made on many research fronts simultaneously.  You can read the current state of research at the ALS Association Research web site.  With adequate support, stem cell therapies may go a long way to helping people with ALS.  Furthermore, ALS affects different people at varying rates and may "burn out" allowing victims to plateau for many years at a time.  While it is far from typical, one extraordinary example of such very slow progression may be seen in Stephen Hawking - 44 years with ALS and counting!

The Journey of Hope is a greater Rank Family initiative to provide Joe, his wife Linda, and their four children with the support and resources they need to battle the disease.  Over time, Journey of Hope will have many facets, both public and private.  

Right now there are four primary ways you can help:

  • NEW - Visit and support BanglesByGrace.com - Fine hand crafted jewelry in original and custom designs.  100% of the profits from the Bangles by Grace go to the Joe Rank ALS Fund.

  • Right now Journey of Hope is selling original note cards to raise money for Joe's ongoing medication and special dietary needs. The cover of the cards is the flagship piece for Journey of Hope - it is an original watercolor painting by Linda Rank (Joe's wife). You can view the artwork and place an order here.

  • Make a donation directly to the Joe Rank ALS Fund using PayPal:
  • Please keep Joe and his family in your thoughts and prayers, and feel free to send well wishing directly to Joe at joe@rankfamily.com.  This Journey of Hope is not a solo flight and there are many, many people who help along the way - from close family to total strangers.  We are all on this Journey together.