2023-24 LLL Impact Report - Flipbook - Seite 10
ALS FAMILY
SUPPORT
2023-24
IRON HORSE
SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
LEAH DEVEREUX
WIL PARTON
Leah is pursuing her
Master of Nursing in
Public and Population
Health at Worchester
State University. Leah’s
husband, Richard, was
diagnosed with ALS
in February 2019 when she was seven months
pregnant with their second child and had a
toddler at home.
“Like Lou, I am driven by a sense of courage
and determination to make a difference, even in
the face of adversity, shared Leah. “For me,
courage isn’t just about facing big challenges
or obstacles. It’s also about making the most
of every moment and living life to the fullest.”
Her letter of recommendation shared with us
that in addition to being a wife, mother, and
student, Leah is a school nurse, who advocates
for the disabled by ensuring there are accessible
walkways and venues in her town, was recently
Wil is a sophomore
at Pennsylvania State
University-Behrend
studying marketing so
he can use his degree
to “help raise money,
awareness and bring
ALS further into the light.” Sarah, his mom, was
diagnosed with ALS in 2022 and made Wil
rethink his future. At that time, he had just 昀椀nished
“GRATITUDE IN MY LIFE IS BIGGER
THAN ALS AND IT IS BIGGER THAN
SADNESS. “ —WIL PARTON
his 昀椀rst year at a different college, was playing
on the football team, and studying 昀椀nance. He
decided to move home and switch schools so
he could spend more time with her knowing that
there is no predicting how ALS will progress.
“To relate my gratitude to Lou Gehrig’s
‘Luckiest Man’ speech—even though I know I
will lose my mom to a terrible disease—I too feel
blessed for the family I have, my ‘teammates’ in
life, and how good the ‘game’ of life has been to
me so far. Gratitude in my life is bigger than ALS
and it is bigger than sadness. Gratitude is in every
hug, conversation, and moment that my mom is
here with me.”
“IT’S ABOUT MAKING THE MOST OF
EVERY MOMENT AND LIVING LIFE
TO THE FULLEST.“ —LEAH DEVEREUX
named a content creator for Boston Moms, and
is co-chair of the town’s Family Connection
program which plans events for families with
young children.
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