For many families impacted by ALS, the Walk ALS season is more than just an event; it is a symbol of connection, remembrance, and hope. For Michelle Francis, that connection has taken on a deeply personal and creative form. Michelle was diagnosed with ALS in June 2019 at the age of 48. ALS had already been a constant presence in her life. She comes from a family with a long history of familial ALS, spanning more than seven generations and affecting dozens of relatives.
After years of participating in Walk ALS events, Michelle had collected a number of Walk ALS shirts. Instead of storing them away, she found a meaningful way to preserve those memories. Michelle transformed her Walk ALS shirts into a quilt. The Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge is a program that brings together quilters, quilt shops, and guilds to create handmade quilts for people living with ALS. Over time, these quilts have become a meaningful way to support the ALS community and offer comfort to those who receive them. Take a look at some of the quilts below that were created through the Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge.
