January Volunteer of the Month Diana Kirk Diana Kirk’s life had been filled with joy. The youngest of five, she could learn the ropes from her older siblings Tim, Ryan, Joey, and Jenny. Her mom Maryanne was the ultimate loving, caring, and understanding mother. But it was her dad Roger who stole her heart. And when he was diagnosed with ALS, she followed her heart. When you read her own words here it is readily apparent why Diana is so deserving of the Chapter’s Volunteer of the Month honor. ![]() After my dad was diagnosed, there was no hesitation that our family was going to fight alongside him. So that meant it was time to volunteer with The ALS Association. We all knew right there that our volunteer work wasn’t going to save our father, but it was going to help others not feel the devastation we were feeling at the time of his diagnosis. Personally, I fundraise for the young kid who must hear their parent has an incurable disease. I was a 21-year-old junior at the University of Scranton when my dad was diagnosed. Being away at college, not with my family when we heard the news, is something that rocks your world. And when your world has been rocked, you want to do anything you can to rid the world of the disease. I am lucky enough to have the greatest mom who took care of my dad until the very end, and now continues to take care of all of us today. My oldest brother Tim, and his wife Kayla, my brother Ryan, and his wife Kaitlyn, my brother Joey, my sister Jenny, and her husband Sean. And of course, I have so much love for all my nieces and nephews! Our family is lucky enough to have had support from so many family members like my Dad’s siblings and in-laws, Janice, Barbara, Tom, Ed, Jerry, and Kelly. And too many others to name! Everyone had a role in caring for dad. The ALS Association has been with us from the start. The ALS Clinic put my mom and dad in touch with The Greater Philadelphia Chapter when my dad was first diagnosed in 2013. We were able to get the necessary supplies and resources we needed through the Chapter. Their Loaner Closet supplied us with a walker and wheelchair for my dad when he needed it. They helped us get a handicapped-accessible van. If we were unsure what to do as the disease progressed, The ALS Association was the first step. A special shout out to Board Chair Ellyn Phillips who came to us as a resource, but now has become a close friend. My mom and Ellyn even went on a trip together to New Orleans! ![]() Team Kirkin’ It enjoyed a huge presence at the Philadelphia Walk to Defeat ALS at Citizens Bank Park in 2019. Our family immediately started participating in the Walk to Defeat ALS. 2020 was our 8th year participating, and I have been serving as team captain for the last several years. Our team, Team Kirkin’ It, has been able to raise over $220,000 for ALS research and care services and has been the “top fundraising team” for three years. It truly is a group effort and my family and I fundraise together to give the biggest impact we can (thank you Facebook fundraisers!) It is my favorite day — giving back to such a good cause, hearing stories of my dad from his close friends and family, and seeing other families rally behind the ones they love. (This year, during the hardest fundraising year our Chapter has ever endured due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Diana was the top fundraiser of the entire Chapter’s SEVEN Walk to Defeat ALS events.)
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