Keri's Crusade for ALS honors the memory of Keri Brown Still, a loving wife, mother, daughter and friend, who lost her life to ALS in 2008 at age 29. It’s also dedicated to ALS education, hoping to minimize the frustration, fear and pain that accompany an ALS diagnosis.

This nonprofit organization presents a yearly conference to educate professional and non-professional caregivers in the care of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The goal is to raise awareness through education and support of finding the cause of ALS. If we can find the cause... we'll find the cure!

The annual conference is geared towards people with ALS, their caregivers and medical professionals.

"Keri often found that her case “perplexed” physicians", said Joan Brown, Keri's mother and co-founder of the organization. "Many times, she had to push for her own medical tests, including MRIs, spinal taps and blood work, knowing instinctively that something was seriously wrong. Doctors tested her for a variety of illnesses, finally telling her it was a virus that would run its course."

Keri saw multiple doctors who kept telling her to “come back in a couple of months if it’s not better.” Eventually, she was referred to a neuro-muscular specialist, who diagnosed her with ALS. A year later, Keri died.

Throughout her ordeal, her family was shocked by the lack of education surrounding ALS and its symptoms. And the lack of knowledge was widespread.

"Even at a hospital with an ALS clinic, the caregivers didn’t know how to administer certain equipment, such as a new respiratory mask. ALS patients should not use oxygen, yet the hospital staff put her on oxygen. And when Keri was cared for by Hospice staff, they had never treated a case of ALS before," said Brown.

Her family grew frustrated that her medical professionals and other caregivers didn’t understand the disease – or how to help Keri.

ALS is mysterious in many ways, and it’s important for patients, their caregivers and their medical team to learn all they can about the disease. This ongoing conference program is meant to educate and inform about ALS so others won’t endure the obstacles that Keri faced.

The organization is dedicated to honoring a lovely young woman – a philanthropist, entrepreneur, artist, health/sports enthusiast, who loved her family, books, beaches and animals. It’s also devoted to ALS education, striving to make the path less frustrating and painful for others touched by ALS.  

For more information, visit www.keribstill.com.