This is where teams would walk in their own neighborhoods instead of in Delaware Park, where it is usually held. Our team planned our walk in Fredonia, but at the end of June the ALS Association made a surprise announcement that the walk would be held in Delaware Park — but with many changes. The ALS Walk opening ceremonies would be recorded and made available for participants to view on Facebook. A DJ would be there with music and announcements but only water would be available. Participants were encouraged to bring their own food and picnic in the park. The “Walk Your Way” option was still an option for those participants who it would work better for.

My dad, Leroy Wright was diagnosed with ALS on September 16, 2019. This disease is horrible and fatal. Our family decided to walk and fundraise so hopefully other families do not have to go through this. Our team name is Leroy’s Pit Crew and it represents my dad, his love of cars and drag racing. My dad used to drag race his 1967 Chevelle that he has had since 1971. My sister Kristi Biniker, my brother Jason Wright and myself were and will always be his pit crew.

When deciding on our ALS Walk Team name we could go with no other name but Leroy’s Pit Crew and we chose the “Walk your Way” option. By walking in Fredonia it made it easier for my dad to participate and also for more friends and family to participate as well. Before ALS my dad walked six miles every morning and it just seemed the right choice to walk part of his old route. We walked from my parents house on Liberty Street to the parking lot on Water Street where we met up with the rest of our team and walkers.

The turnout was amazing.

Submitted photos Pictured are LeRoy Wright, Wright’s family and other supporters during the recent “Walk Your Way” fundraiser the family organized in Fredonia.

We had around 40 friends and family as we continued with our walk up Water Street wearing our red shirts and carrying an ALS Walk sign, then we walked through the park and took pictures in the gazebo and in the park. It was a nice setting to chat and catch up with everyone and after a while we turned around and headed back the way we came. It was a short but beautiful walk and the smile on my dad’s face the whole time was proof of that.

Our fundraising journey for the 2021 Buffalo ALS Walk has been so heartwarming. So many people have reached out to all of us, donated money and offered their support in so many ways. This has shown us that each of our communities in Fredonia, Brockway, Pa., Monclova, Ohio, and Hilliard, Ohio, are there for us when we need them. We have held Facebook fundraisers, T-shirt fundraisers, fundraisers at the kids’ baseball games and my parents, Sally Jo and Leroy Wright’s friends in Florida, are also doing a T-shirt fundraiser and their own walk. To date we have raised $8,087.75 and donations still keep coming in.

On behalf of my whole family; Sally Jo and Leroy Wright; Leigh Anne, Brian, Nathan and Gianna May; Kristi, Jason, Andrew, Jackson and Braden Biniker and Jason, Alyssa, Tyler and Graham Wright, I want to thank everyone who has donated money, time, a batch of cookies, a call or a text to any of us. We have the best family and friends anyone could ask for!

Donations can still be received for Leroy’s Pit Crew by sending a check made out to ALS Association and in the note section write Leroy’s Pit Crew and mail it to: ALS Association Kristin Schneider – Upstate NY chapter, Attn: Walk to Defeat ALS, 135 Old Cove Rd, Suite 213, Liverpool, NY 13090. Or you can make an online donation at https://bndfr.com/Qh6Yp.