ALS Fundraiser for Lee

Please donate to help Lee with his ALS medical costs!

You may know Lee Olson as a Brewers fan, a Milwaukee Parks enthusiast, a punk rock singer with eccentric dance moves, or a caring and compassionate friend; likely, you know all these aspects of him and more. Lee is one of our oldest and dearest friends, and we’re reaching out on behalf of him and his wife, Erin, to ask for your help.

Lee was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, in December 2022, after nearly two years of falls and drastically declining mobility and health.

ALS is a terminal neurodegenerative disease in which a person's brain loses connection with the muscles, and nerves die off. People with ALS lose their ability to walk, talk, eat, and eventually breathe, with a life expectancy of 2–5 years from onset.

Our goal is to raise enough funds to help Lee live his last few years comfortably in his home, help with transportation and medical costs, and make sure he can access in-home care to help with his daily needs.

Lee can no longer walk and is in a wheelchair full time, with hand and arm weakness increasing. He is currently under care at the UW Hospital in Madison, where he gets treatment for his ALS symptoms, and therefore must travel to Madison frequently.

Erin is working full time and providing round-the-clock care for Lee, as well as caring for their daily needs, their dog Dakota, and their home. She endeavors to give Lee a life of love, fun, adventure, and experience as much as possible in his limited remaining years. In addition, Erin is planning some bucket list trips for Lee over the next two years, so they can travel before he is no longer able.

Lee is currently working from home on a limited schedule, and will continue to reduce his hours through 2023, with “retirement” anticipated within a year.

Lee and Erin will need funds mainly for Lee’s in-home medical care in his last few years with us. Erin will need to continue to work full time to pay the bills and keep them in their home, with moderate unpaid time off from work. As Lee’s condition progresses, his care needs will increase, requiring in-home healthcare assistance daily. In-home healthcare is not covered by insurance, or any programs Lee will be eligible for, and costs are estimated $50k– $100k annually.

Additionally, they will need funds for home modifications, assistance with their recently purchased wheelchair van, medical expenses, a more accessible power wheelchair, and eventually hospice care.

Please donate if you are able to---every dollar helps! And please share this fundraiser as much as possible, so we can spread the word.

If you prefer to donate to Lee & Erin directly, you can do so via Erin’s Venmo: @Erin-Olson-MKE.

Learn more about ALS and its devastating effects: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis-als

Sincerely,

Chris & Lydia