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Community Corner

Saturday Night Live Performer to Help Datto Employee with Lou Gehrig's

It was just over seventy five years ago Lou Gehrig proclaimed himself “the luckiest man on the face of the earth” - two years before he would succumb to ALS, the degenerative nerve disease that today bears his name.

In November 2013, Amy (Stumbris) Truman of Trumbull, daughter of Betty and Vinnie Stumbris of Stratford, was diagnosed with ALS and her world changed forever. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, orALS, is a terrible disease for a person of any age, but Amy is only 38.

She and her husband Jeremy have two young boys to raise together, so they are doing everything in their power to overcome this.

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While a support network is available from organizations like the Milford-based CT chapter of the ALS Association, many of the daily challenges she now faces are difficult, and costly, to meet.

Critical needs include adaptive equipment and home modifications for mobility and communication to allow her to stay involved with her sons Max (5) and Nate (2); and continue to work with Datto of Norwalk, CT.

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A crowdfunding site has been established where anyone can donate to help support Amy: http://www.gofundme.com/TeamTrumanBeatALS

Comedy Benefit Show July 18

On Friday, July 18, performers from Saturday Night Live and the Upright Citizen’s Brigade, led by UCB’s Mark Vigeant (a family member of Amy’s) will present an all-star comedy benefit show in New York City to help support her.

Tickets and more information are available at the Team Truman “Beat ALS” page on Facebook: www.facebook.com/TeamTrumanBeatALS  7pm, The Players Theatre; 115 Macdougal St, New York, NY

Proceeds from the show will aid Amy with medical expenses and travel as she works with some of the world's leading ALS researchers and clinicians at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Seventy five years after Lou Gehrig, there is still no cure, but due to the work of researchers such as those at Boston’s ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS-TDI) the pace of research has advanced, giving Amy and her family hope. 

Top Fundraiser in 270 mile “Tri-State Trek” for ALS TDI

Family and friends from Connecticut, New York, and Massachusetts have rallied together to support her in her fight, and from June 27 to 29 Amy’s husband Jeremy, friends, and coworkers from Connect Computer in Fairfield participated in the ALS TDI Tri-State Trek.

This annual event raises funds to help the non-profit ALS Therapy Development Institute in their leading work to develop innovative and effective new treatments for ALS. Jeremy and his team completed 270 miles and achieved the honor of being the top fundraiser out of over 200 riders this year. http://tst.als.net/teamtruman


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