Footprints with Jenny
Come stomp out ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease)
Join Jenny in her power chair
and make your footprints last!
June 19th
Centennial Trail
Start Point: Nine Mile Falls at 9 AM
Walk a step or walk a mile
For jump on details or packet call
(509) 979-1883
General Details
Join Jenny as she travels the Centennial Trail for 37 miles. For more information and a packet to participate, call (509) 979-1883. Jump on points available with information. No cost to walk. Donations are accepted on ride day or prior by cash, check payable to “Pennies For Jenny” and sent to any Numerica bank branch, or call Numerica with credit card payment! If you know someone collecting funds simply donate there! 509-535-7613
Sponsors
American Seating and Mobility
Strider’s
ALSSO
Rocket Bakery
Sorrentino’s Coffee
Radio Spokane
Millwood Presbyterian Church
Valley Real Life Church
Monday, June 14, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Friday, November 20, 2009
On May 21, 2006 my neurologist confirmed what my primary care physician had already suspected and diagnosed -- that I, Jenny Hoff, an ambitious, independent, colorful, adventurous 47-year-old had ALS aka Lou Gehrig's disease. That life as I had known it was about to change drastically. He guaranteed that death was imminent, probably sooner than later. Along the way to death I would lose every involuntary muscle function, from moving my finger to taking a breath. He guaranteed that with time I would accept this, and that what would be best for me at this time was to go home, get my affairs in order and prepare to die. What I have done since that time is what I call learned how to live.
Following is what I feel are my greatest accomplishments of my entire life, and they have all been attained since I was diagnosed with a terminal disease.
2006 I spent the majority of trying to figure out what he meant, and how to prepare to die.
In September 2006, I raised $8,000 for the ALS Association for my first year participating in the annual walk.
By 2007, I knew that I did not want to die from ALS but to learn how to live with ALS. December of 2006 I met who would become one of my greatest teachers in life, living, and dying. He was dying from ALS and in the final stages. I walked with him, day by day, to the end of his life on Earth, which was June 7, 2007. Along the way I learned many things, mostly of which were that in the big picture life was simply the blink of an eye, and the gateway to something much more beautiful and lasting.
In April of 2007. I was a privileged to travel to Chicago to meet this friend and build a memory that will last me for ever.
In May of 2007. I spoke at an ALS symposium in Seattle -- teaching new patients how to deal with the first year of a terminal disease -- in brief, how to blossom when you were expected to wither.
In May of 2007, I was invited to Washington, DC to advocate for patients and plead with Congress to pass a bill enabling the CDC to count ALS as one of the diseases they collect data on. In May of 2009, the bill was passed and signed by the president.
In September of 2007, I raised $6,000 for the ALS Association again at the annual walk.
I was beginning to see that I was being blessed with a God-given gift to speak out on behalf of the other ALS patients, and to capture the attention of people who otherwise would not know anything about ALS, and about the fact that a terminal diagnosis is not the worst thing that can happen.
Beginning in September of 2007 I started going into schools -- grade schools, high schools, colleges. First grade to graduate students, teaching them the needs of the disabled. Teaching them that because a person is disabled does not mean they are different from the rest. I spoke at every venue and opportunity where I was welcomed -- Spokane Regional Transportation Committee, Rotary club, Lions Clubs. It became my personal responsibility to educate everyone around me that we have a world with a large percentage of people who are sent home to die, and that's exactly what many of them do. It became my commitment that as long as I was able to communicate I would speak on behalf of those who can't.
October of 2007. I was invited and sponsored to go to Boston to watch scientists firsthand working to find a cure at ALS TDI. I was alive with desire to help them. In June of 2008 I did a fundraiser for them. It was a luau dinner, with a silent auction, and I raised over $13,000.
In 2008 I made friends with a group of kids in my neighborhood who fueled my determination by the Spirit within them. I learned how to nurture and encouraged their independence, and their difference from one another. We became a tightly knit group, made only to help one another. It was then that I observed firsthand what giving and receiving was all about. I clearly saw the blessings that came from reaching out and helping one another. I saw these kids blossom as they came to my door daily asking for chores to help me, being paid occasionally with a piece of red licorice. I saw the blessings begin to unfold in my own life, because I took the time to listen and love these kids. Not to criticize or mold them into who I believed they should be, but to observe and appreciate who they are.
In September of 2008, I participated in what was my third annual walk for the ALS Association, and raised $2000.
In October of 2008 with the help of the kids in my neighborhood, which by now I called the Angels on Empire, we raised over $1500 for a new local ALS support group called ALSSO. We had a huge spaghetti feed and the kids were the servers.
In April of 2009, as a board member of ALSSO, I helped plan the event, and did the catering to a piano concert fundraiser. We raised close to $5,000 for ALS-/TDI and ALSSO.
In July of 2009 I planned an outdoor fundraiser/concert to benefit ALS/TDI. We are still calculating the results of that fundraiser.
Currently, the Angels on Empire kids and myself are planning our second annual spaghetti feed to benefit ALSSO. It will be held in October, and most likely will raise more money than last year.
In between my life and my fundraisers. My passion has become to connect with other ALS patients, and to help them find resources and support in any way I can. Sometimes that means hours on a phone call with a wife or husband of someone dying from ALS.
As for me, my life has continued to unfold before my very eyes in the last 3 1/2 years. I am grateful for the doctor who told me to go home and die -- I believe that was the very beginning of my search for life. It has caused me to see beauty in everything. It has caused me to seek God in everything. It is caused me to thank God for everything -- including ALS. It has caused me to not be proud of myself, but to thank God for using my experience and my words to help so many others. My hope is that God is using me to help them appreciate every day as I now do. To help them not take for granted any breath. To realize that we are all simply creatures of God, and our lives are not our own. To realize our lives have never been our own. I deserve no glory or honor -- for all glory is his.
Following is what I feel are my greatest accomplishments of my entire life, and they have all been attained since I was diagnosed with a terminal disease.
2006 I spent the majority of trying to figure out what he meant, and how to prepare to die.
In September 2006, I raised $8,000 for the ALS Association for my first year participating in the annual walk.
By 2007, I knew that I did not want to die from ALS but to learn how to live with ALS. December of 2006 I met who would become one of my greatest teachers in life, living, and dying. He was dying from ALS and in the final stages. I walked with him, day by day, to the end of his life on Earth, which was June 7, 2007. Along the way I learned many things, mostly of which were that in the big picture life was simply the blink of an eye, and the gateway to something much more beautiful and lasting.
In April of 2007. I was a privileged to travel to Chicago to meet this friend and build a memory that will last me for ever.
In May of 2007. I spoke at an ALS symposium in Seattle -- teaching new patients how to deal with the first year of a terminal disease -- in brief, how to blossom when you were expected to wither.
In May of 2007, I was invited to Washington, DC to advocate for patients and plead with Congress to pass a bill enabling the CDC to count ALS as one of the diseases they collect data on. In May of 2009, the bill was passed and signed by the president.
In September of 2007, I raised $6,000 for the ALS Association again at the annual walk.
I was beginning to see that I was being blessed with a God-given gift to speak out on behalf of the other ALS patients, and to capture the attention of people who otherwise would not know anything about ALS, and about the fact that a terminal diagnosis is not the worst thing that can happen.
Beginning in September of 2007 I started going into schools -- grade schools, high schools, colleges. First grade to graduate students, teaching them the needs of the disabled. Teaching them that because a person is disabled does not mean they are different from the rest. I spoke at every venue and opportunity where I was welcomed -- Spokane Regional Transportation Committee, Rotary club, Lions Clubs. It became my personal responsibility to educate everyone around me that we have a world with a large percentage of people who are sent home to die, and that's exactly what many of them do. It became my commitment that as long as I was able to communicate I would speak on behalf of those who can't.
October of 2007. I was invited and sponsored to go to Boston to watch scientists firsthand working to find a cure at ALS TDI. I was alive with desire to help them. In June of 2008 I did a fundraiser for them. It was a luau dinner, with a silent auction, and I raised over $13,000.
In 2008 I made friends with a group of kids in my neighborhood who fueled my determination by the Spirit within them. I learned how to nurture and encouraged their independence, and their difference from one another. We became a tightly knit group, made only to help one another. It was then that I observed firsthand what giving and receiving was all about. I clearly saw the blessings that came from reaching out and helping one another. I saw these kids blossom as they came to my door daily asking for chores to help me, being paid occasionally with a piece of red licorice. I saw the blessings begin to unfold in my own life, because I took the time to listen and love these kids. Not to criticize or mold them into who I believed they should be, but to observe and appreciate who they are.
In September of 2008, I participated in what was my third annual walk for the ALS Association, and raised $2000.
In October of 2008 with the help of the kids in my neighborhood, which by now I called the Angels on Empire, we raised over $1500 for a new local ALS support group called ALSSO. We had a huge spaghetti feed and the kids were the servers.
In April of 2009, as a board member of ALSSO, I helped plan the event, and did the catering to a piano concert fundraiser. We raised close to $5,000 for ALS-/TDI and ALSSO.
In July of 2009 I planned an outdoor fundraiser/concert to benefit ALS/TDI. We are still calculating the results of that fundraiser.
Currently, the Angels on Empire kids and myself are planning our second annual spaghetti feed to benefit ALSSO. It will be held in October, and most likely will raise more money than last year.
In between my life and my fundraisers. My passion has become to connect with other ALS patients, and to help them find resources and support in any way I can. Sometimes that means hours on a phone call with a wife or husband of someone dying from ALS.
As for me, my life has continued to unfold before my very eyes in the last 3 1/2 years. I am grateful for the doctor who told me to go home and die -- I believe that was the very beginning of my search for life. It has caused me to see beauty in everything. It has caused me to seek God in everything. It is caused me to thank God for everything -- including ALS. It has caused me to not be proud of myself, but to thank God for using my experience and my words to help so many others. My hope is that God is using me to help them appreciate every day as I now do. To help them not take for granted any breath. To realize that we are all simply creatures of God, and our lives are not our own. To realize our lives have never been our own. I deserve no glory or honor -- for all glory is his.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Beginning
Not too sure why, but I feel compelled to begin and upkeep a blog for those of you interested or curious. I think I will keep it to myself until I get the hang of this. More later.........
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