positively Jax we've been talking all
week long about tomorrow's ALS walk
Channel four is a proud sponsor and our
executive producer Sharon Siegel Cohen
is fighting the disease she sat down
with Vick and shared her challenges ALS
or Lou Gehrig's disease is a progressive
neurodegenerative disorder tomorrow
there is a walk for ALS and it is very
personal for us our dear executive
producer Sharon Siegel Cohen was
diagnosed with a form of the disease in
July and she has since made it her
mission to be very vocal about the
disease and helping find a cure so
welcome Sharon you're normally behind
the scenes but you have been so
transparent so open with us about this
very difficult process we laugh we smile
we have these fun events and fundraisers
but at the end of the day als is nothing
to smile about
no and I decided originally when I was
diagnosed I was sort of in disbelief and
didn't want to talk about it only told
immediate family and friends but as the
months and weeks went by I thought I'm
in a position to be vocal and let's
let's get the word out it's been 80
years since Lou Gehrig was diagnosed 80
years Vic it's time to find a cure and
that's why I want to talk about it and
it's been emotional for so many of us I
remember when you pulled myself and
Nicky aside so vividly and you gave us
the bad news but you have been so
incredibly strong and passionate Sharon
you go to your doctor all the time what
are the questions that he asks you well
every it's sort of a benchmark so this
is what they asked he'll say can you get
dressed by yourself I'm like yeah he
says can you cut your food by yourself
yes can you chew and swallow yes do you
have a breathing device and I'm thinking
I don't have any of that now but you
wonder what will the future be well I
one day need a tube or more care and you
just I keep hoping for the best sure the
biggest issue for you has been your
mobility what
is the future like for you I mean I know
that we don't have that answer but what
is it like for you as far as your
mission what are you gonna continue to
do I want to continue to be as vocal and
that's why the walk is very important
this Saturday
our team is Sharon songbirds I'd love
you know any of the viewers to join us I
just want to do what we can to find a
cure for this and for me that it really
is like you said the walking is just
very difficult because a year ago I was
walking not well I was probably starting
to use a cane but now I'm in a
wheelchair and I'm dependent on other
people to help me get in the wheelchair
and and get around is there still hope
out there because I know you've done so
much research you've spoken with a lot
of experts well you know who knows they
don't know I wish they could say yes
this is gonna happen but I am on the
newest medication one is this it's a
drug it's an infusion drug so every two
weeks I'm on that and then I'm on a pill
every twice a day so I mean I'm on the
newest medication and I'm eligible I'm
in a new clinical trials so what I said
let's be aggressive whatever is out
there I want to try and you continue to
come to work every single day and you do
your job and you do it so well with a
smile thank you that's what makes you an
angel that's what makes you so wonderful
to us yeah you know how much you mean to
me the rest of our time you make us cry
not I'm 9 and over the past couple of
weeks since you've been sharing your
story publicly to all of our friends who
watch at home so the walk you are
teaming up with Orangetheory fitness for
something called Auggie's quest tell us
about that this is different from the
walk so this is May 4th mm-hmm they were
watching one day on the news and heard
our story about my my journey and
they're giving me the courage award at
their gala on May 4th which is like oh
my gosh I don't know if I do anything
courageous but I do Auggie is thank you
Auggie Nieto he's the founder of life
fitness he's a multi-millionaire and he
was diagnosed with ALS about 14 years
ago so his quad
is research and to find a cure so this
man is amazing he's still alive and he
it's just he's raised millions for this
yes well there is hope there's so much
love for you we appreciate you thank you
for sharing your story with us thank you
for coming of course everybody will be
there and we all love you and support
you so a reminder the ALS walk is
tomorrow they're gonna be gathering at
Tinseltown to register at 8:30 you can
still join you can register there on the
spot the walk officially starts at 10
o'clock and remember if you are team
Sharon songbirds which there's no reason
not to be wear red and I may have a song
or three okay thank you
she loves her songs and we love her we
have information for the walk all you
have to do is go to our website news for
Jack's comm yes and I'll be covering a
walk tomorrow we of course will have
live coverage beginning at 9:00 on the
morning show and remember you'll be able
to buy tickets for the Orangetheory
fitness gala I'm a fourth for Auggie's
quest just go to OTF jacks dot-com we
love you Sharon I know she's at home
watching yes only she would