A friends sister was diagnosed with ALS three years ago...also known as Lou Gehrig's disease (sp?). For some reason, I felt immense compassion for this woman who is a mother to three teenage boys. I started writing short little letters to this woman that I had never met. Little notes just saying that she's thought of, etc. The letters are only one way. She's too weak to write back. But nonetheless, I keep writing to her, expecting nothing back. Her health deteriorated rapidly. She lost almost all of her muscles and has to have assistance in the most basic tasks. She now uses a walker. She is weak. But her personality is strong. She's a fighter. Last night her niece put together a show to help raise money for ALS. It started as a project for the girls bat mitzvah that is rapidly approaching. People bought tickets to the show and a silent auction was held. Do you know that the efforts put on by the niece raised nearly $30,000! The guest of honor was there...the lady I had never met before, that I had been sending letters to. After the show, I went up to her, and introduced myself as the woman who sends letters to her. Her faced lit up, and she said she cherishes each and every single letter. She also said that she keeps each letter I've written to her. I walked away with tears in my eyes, knowing that something so little made such a difference in this woman's life. And while her situation doesn't look good, I'm glad that I could make her smile, if even for a minute. Currently there isn't a cure for ALS. Rock on Marjie! We're pulling for you.