Mission Statement
The Hope-JG Foundation is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit corporation dedicated to helping families living with ALS and other neuromuscular diseases, live life to its fullest by leveraging existing world class technology, supporting technical innovation and biomedical research. Our initial, primary missions will be threefold: - To provide practical help, guidance and insight to families with ALS. - To inspire and promote innovative technologies which enrich the lives of families living with ALS and other neuromuscular diseases. - To establish a world class ALS/MS Residence in Maine similar to the first of its kind facility founded by Steve Saling and Barry Berman at the Leonard Florence Center for Living in Chelsea, MA.
Description
UR STORY IT STARTED WITH A TEXT MESSAGE...
I was diagnosed with ALS in 2007 and was given 18-24 months to live. Linda and I refused to accept that. Five years later, the following events unfolded which became the "foundation for our foundation".
On August 12th, 2012 a friend, Brian Bickford, texted me from Jaco Beach in Costa Rica. He asked if he could write +something in the sand, take a photo and send it to me. I replied "Hope", which had become Linda and my watchword since my diagnosis of ALS in December of 2007. Within minutes, a photo appeared on my Facebook timeline. Brian has photographed "Hope", but he also added "JG", my initials.
Soon after, Brian marshalled the services of several "Hope Agents" to send photos from Colombia, Singapore, Ireland, Spain, and even from an in-flight Air Force plane - all with signs that read "Hope-JG".
