Hudson resident diagnosed with ALS raises funds, fights for a cure; ‘Stanley Stampede’ returns to Akron Walk to Defeat ALS on Aug. 25

by Nikki Custy

When most people think of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the names Lou Gehrig or Stephen Hawking come to mind. For many members of the Hudson community, Angela Stanley comes to mind. Stanley, 48, was diagnosed with ALS in April 2018 after concerns about slurred speech prompted her to see a neurologist at the Cleveland Clinic.

Since that diagnosis, Stanley has been doing all that she can to fight the disease, including taking medicines to slow down its progress and participating in clinical trials. In addition, Stanley has worked hard to increase awareness and raise funds for research and a cure. According the ALS Association, the illness is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. It affects approximately 20,000 Americans at any given time; 90-95 percent of these cases are sporadic, as is the case with Stanley, which means that the disease is not inherited and may affect anyone, anytime, anywhere.

For this article, Angela communicated via email as she has lost the ability to speak. ALS slowly robs the afflicted with the ability to speak, walk, swallow and breathe.

 “Doctors consistently say this is the worst diagnosis ever,” Stanley said. “Eventually people die from this disease, because it literally takes their breath away.”

John Coyne, director of events and marketing for the ALS Association Northern Ohio Chapter, lost two extended family members to ALS. This helped drive his move from the corporate world to a more philanthropic role.

“The average lifespan for a person with ALS is typically two to five years,” Coyne said. “The services that we provide to patients and their families and caregivers is definitely a mission I can get behind.”

One of Angela’s largest fundraising efforts is the Akron Walk to Defeat ALS. Last year her team, the “Stanley Stampede,” raised $42,000 for the ALS Association.

“They were absolutely incredible,” Coyne said. “Angela had over 100 people on her team, and they cut the ribbon for us at the Akron walk.”

The Stanley Stampede is back in action for this year’s Akron Walk, which is scheduled for Aug. 25 at Lock 3 in downtown Akron. Angela will be joined by her husband Dave, children Jake, Brooke and Jackson, her parents and extended family and friends, including friends from Hudson Newcomers and her neighborhood. Also joining them this year are members of her son’s soccer team, who have made walking with Angela and assisting with set up and tear down at the event their service project. Spearheading this project is Steve Knapp, head soccer coach at Hudson High.

“We are very blessed,” Stanley said.

The Akron Walk to Defeat ALS is a fundraiser for the ALS Association, which in addition to leading the way in global research for a cure, also supports individuals with ALS and their caregivers.

“The Northern Ohio Chapter serves approximately 300 patients and their caregivers throughout 33 counties,” Coyne said.

All services are free and include home visits from staff members, the loan of medical equipment, augmented communication devices and support groups.

In addition to her family and close friends in Hudson Newcomers, Stanley receives tremendous support from many members of the greater Hudson community. In the spring, after reading about Stanley’s fundraising efforts for the ALS Association, Lisa Carson of Gwendolyn Elizabeth reached out to Stanley to inquire about hosting an ALS fundraising event in Hudson.

“When my daughter, Gwen, founded Gwendolyn Elizabeth, she wanted a big part of this effort to be focused on giving back,” Carson said. “Angela has been such a blessing to so many people and has been such a great representative for ALS. We wanted to do something that would honor her.”

In April, Stanley was the honored guest at an ALS fundraiser that was a collaborative effort between several Hudson businesses. The event featured live music, raffles and food at the following locations, including Vive Bene Gourmet and Gwendolyn Elizabeth. Funds raised were donated to the ALS Association in Stanley’s honor.

Shortly before the event, Stanley lost the ability to speak. “I teased Angela and told her all she had to do is smile and hug people,” Carson said.

In addition to the Hudson event, Stanley and fellow Hudson Newcomers Club board members Tammy Hopgood, Michele Groff and Marla Piccolomini, rallied members of the Hudson community to make donations and attend the annual Strike Out! ALS Gala & Auction in May. The Gala was held at the Global Center for Health Innovation in Cleveland and honored former Cleveland Indians All-Star and current first base coach, Sandy Alomar Jr., who received the “Iron Horse” award, a nod to Gehrig, whose name became synonymous with the disease.

For more information about donating to the Stanley Stampede for the Akron Walk to Defeat ALS, visit walktodefeatals.org and search for “Stanley Stampede.”

Featured image photo caption: The Stanley family, (l-r) Angela, Jackson, Dave, Brooke and Jake, are ready to raise much-needed funds for ALS research at the Akron Walk to Defeat ALS, which will be held later this month. Angela Stanley has galvanized the Hudson community behind the cause since her 2018 diagnosis.