As we enter the final stretch of the year, I want to take a moment to express my deep gratitude to our incredible community of patients, families, donors, and advocates. Steering the Jim “Catfish” Hunter ALS Foundation forward is an absolute honor, and as we look toward closing out 2026, our mission to support individuals living with ALS across North Carolina remains stronger than ever. Behind every diagnosis is a family navigating an uncertain path, and our foundation stands committed to walking alongside you with direct assistance, care resources, and unwavering hope.
To keep our momentum going, our Board of Directors is meeting next week to finalize our strategic priorities and funding allocations for the upcoming year. Crucially, the link for our 4th Quarter Grant Applications is now officially live on our website! If you or a loved one are an ALS patient in North Carolina in need of financial assistance for equipment, home accessibility modifications, or caregiving support, we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible. Ensuring our local families receive the relief and dignity they deserve is at the heart of everything we do.
Beyond our immediate work, there is real cause for optimism across the broader ALS community right now. Headlines across the internet have highlighted major breakthroughs in neurodegenerative research, including ongoing national clinical consortiums expanding biosample repositories and progress in non-invasive Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) that enable patients to communicate using AI-decoded speech. Furthermore, recent advancements in blood-based proteomics are allowing researchers to detect key biomarkers earlier than ever before. Every discovery like this brings us one step closer to better therapies and, ultimately, a world without ALS.
Thank you for continuing to stand with us, spread awareness, and support our mission. Whether you are applying for a quarterly grant, planning to join us at our upcoming events, or simply sharing our cause, your dedication keeps Jimmy’s legacy alive.
Together, we will keep fighting and moving forward.
“Winning isn’t everything, but wanting to is.” -Jim “Catfish” Hunter
