When Maryanne Kirk’s husband Roger was diagnosed with ALS in 2013, she gathered the strength to unite her family to support him in every way possible. During Roger’s ALS battle, Maryanne joined him at fundraising events, advocacy in Washington, DC, and awareness opportunities to educate others about ALS. Roger was beloved in his community, including as President of Old York Road Country Club, which has hosted the annual ALS United Golf Outing every year since 2013 in his honor.

 

Since Roger passed away in early 2015, Maryanne has carried on his legacy, raising money to support ALS care and research, bringing attention to the ALS cause, and advocating for every ALS family. Maryanne’s tenacity inspires her children, her grandchildren, and all of us to make a difference in the lives of others and to end ALS. 

Dale Shimer has dedicated nearly three decades to supporting individuals living with ALS. After losing his beloved wife, Marjorie, to the disease in 1999, he founded the Marjorie Shimer Equipment Loan Program to provide crucial medical equipment to those in need. Dale's commitment to ALS United Mid-Atlantic has extended to serving on every committee as a board member, volunteering as an ALS clinic greeter to comfort patients and as a Visiting Volunteer for 20 years, and hiring Gail Houseman, RN, BSN, MSN-APRN Regional Nurse Coordinator.

 

His dedication to compassionate care has inspired his three children and eight grandchildren to continue his mission in his honor as they raise money and awareness for the ALS cause.

Larry Delaney is devoted to ending ALS because he understands the devastation of the disease far too well. In the fall of 1989, Larry’s wife Lorraine was diagnosed with ALS. Lorraine passed away in 1991, leaving behind her devoted husband and her daughters Karen, Chrissie, Kathy, and Susan. To honor Lorraine, Larry became involved with ALS United Mid-Atlantic and his family created the Lorraine’s Legacy ALS United Walk team. In February 2011, Larry’s daughter Karen was diagnosed 

with ALS. Their Walk team became Delaney Strong as they learned about the genetic form of ALS in their family. Karen passed away from ALS in 2017, and Larry showed his deep commitment to his family and others impacted by ALS to never give up the fight.

 

​As an ALS United Mid-Atlantic Board member, Larry has led the Research Committee so that we have developed a deeper relationship with ALS organizations and institutions and are now directly funding promising research to find new treatments and a cure for ALS.