The Pat Dwyer Fund was created by Pat and his family to not only raise awareness of ALS, but also to help those diagnosed with ALS win the fight by funding the discovery and development of effective treatments and cures. The fund and its mission remain strong today as a Global Affiliate of ALS.net.
Pat was diagnosed with ALS in 2005 and fought for over eight years with grace, humor, resilience, innovation and courageousness to show his goals for life and family would not be held up by this insidious disease. Together with his wife, Jennifer Gore Dwyer, Pat saw his two children, Brenna and Sean, grow up and become ready to carry on the family legacy and business of fishing in the Bering Sea off the coast of Alaska. Pat and his family inspired thousands of people to get involved in ALS research, and the Pat Dwyer Fund has raised a significant amount of funding for research through events such as the Young Faces of ALS National Corntoss Challenges in Seattle and Washington, DC.
In addition to raising funds, Jenny Dwyer is a member of the board of directors at the ALS Therapy Development Institute, bringing an important perspective as having been a care provider to a PALS and an experienced advocate for ALS patients on Capitol Hill. Together with her family, including her cousin Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Jenny has helped to push forward legislation concerning the provision of care for veterans with ALS, access to communication devices as the disease progresses and ALS research.