We have known many of you for years, some as far back as '95 when we started out on the web as the internet's first vintage clothing store.

We're still a small team of just 5 people, working out of a modest shop building on our rural property in a small Oregon town of just 300 people. We're still doing what we love to do, thanks to local customers like you.

A few months ago, my husband Rob was diagnosed with ALS, known more commonly as Lou Gehrig's disease. Rob retired from his job of 8 years on our daughter's sixth birthday in October.

We are now working to raise money for the ALS Association to fight ALS, and most important to us, raise desperately needed funds for patient services for this devastating disease. Please join us.

DONATE NOW - Add your name to the list of Rob's supporters.

Rob is supported by the staff at the ALS Association in Oregon/SW Washington in his journey with ALS/Lou Gehrig's disease.

Patient Services: Our local ALS Association serves nearly 300 people and families living with ALS, including our own. The ALS Association has helped my husband to obtain equipment, navigate complex social security and medicare issues, and connect with others affected by ALS.

Life Support in-home care: in later stages, living with ALS requires someone to do everything for you. Living on a ventilator for breathing support and a feeding tube for nutrition requires 24/7 specialized in home care at a cost of around $100,000 a year in our state. The ALS Association in our state needs additional funding to pilot an in-home care project to begin to fill the total lack of paid in-home care available to most people with ALS.

The ALS Association makes public policy changes happen. The ALS Association was key in bringing about fundamental changes to the way Medicare Benefits are delivered to those with ALS. If Rob had been diagnosed with ALS just a few years ago, he would have had to wait at least two years before receiving Medicare coverage.

In 2000, the President signed into law The ALS Treatment and Assistance Act (HR 353), legislation waiving the two-year Medicare waiting period for SSDI-eligible individuals with ALS.

Our local ALS Association needs funds to support an additional social worker. Just one social worker serves the our sizeable metropolitan area. In addition to another social worker, we had hoped our ALS Association would be able to hire an in-home care coordinator to begin a pilot proram to assist with in-home care needs earlier this year, but were unable to do so due to lack of funds.

I want in-home care help to be available by the time my husband needs it. Your donation will help to make this happen.

Thank you for your thoughts & warm wishes,

Jennifer Chadwick
RustyZipper.Com owner

DONATE NOW - Add your name to the list of Rob's supporters.