Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Today’s blog post is from Nikki:

Andy’s Army is $17,000 away from raising $100,000 in 2 years. Help us reach this incredible milestone.

After finding out Andy was diagnosed with ALS I found myself deep in the internet world of nonprofits, advocacy groups, foundations, medical pages, and research. And through that, I found the ALS United Chicago Marathon Team. Andy was a marathoner, a triathlete, and endurance athlete, an IRONMAN … and that spoke to me! I could help a little bit in this way. I hadn’t run in years - but one mile at a time, I started training for a marathon!

When I got a spot on the ALS United marathon team, I created a team fundraising page on the ALS United site, naming it “Andy’s Army”. And a movement was born. Our 2025 Chicago Marathon Team included me (Nikki), Alex, Meghan Snarski (Andy’s niece), and Mike Nyman (a friend of mine from Alexandria, VA). Together, with all of the support from Andy’s Army - that’s you reading this page right now - we raised over $64,000. We sold bracelets, and golf balls, and kindly asked you to reach into your wallets and make a donation to ALS United. And you showed up for us. We raised the most fundraising as a team in ALS United History.

Dad checked the fundraising page every day — he was a numbers guy - and was absolutely locked into the impact we were making and (without exaggeration) he cried every day about it. You all touched his heart in a way no one saw coming. And for that, I thank you. Deeply and from the bottom of my heart.

Andy’s Army is back for the Chicago marathon again this year in 2026 — and we’re bigger! We grew by 10 runners

Runners are:

me (Nikki!)

Alex

Maria Snarski (Andy’s sister)

Theresa Snarski (Andy’s niece)

Kaitlyn Berrett (Andy’s niece)

Meghan Snarski (Andy’s niece)

Stephen Snarski (Andy’s nephew)

Nicole Aarts (Andy’s daughter in law)

Zack Brickhouse (Andy’s son in law)

Patrick O’Toole (friend of Nikki and Zack)

David Nasterenko (friend of Alex)

Colin Kujan (friend of Alex)

David Truskowski (friend of Alex)

Matty Truskowski (friend of Alex)

In 2025, our marathon journey was about showing up for a race when Andy was losing (but fighting everyday for) his ability to walk, say ‘I love you’, use the bathroom independently, hold a coffee cup, enjoy a beer, and hug his grandchildren. Through the fundraising efforts - it was always about Andy.

In 2026, this is about raising money for a charity that shows up for people when they need it most - for the organization that showed up for us whenever we needed it, answered every single text and phone call (even on holidays and days off with their families), and are still checking in on our family even after Andy has passed. For the people that are still living with ALS and for the research efforts and clinic trials that hope to give future patients a fighting chance.

Andy would be tracking the numbers every morning if he were still here. We’re so close. He’d be overwhelmed with the support. And he’d be cheering us on. Let’s do this — let’s raise more than $100,000. And F ALS.

Links to donate can be found in the menu at the top of the blog or by clicking here