NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — About a dozen college-aged volunteers drove into Nashville to help a family battling ALS, or as it's also known, Lou Gehrig's Disease.
"My morning started at 6 a.m., rolled out of bed, put on a pair of clothes," said Nathaniel Vernon, a Live Like Lou Foundation Volunteer and member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.
While their work may be considered ordinary household work, it was an extraordinary help.
"Pressure washing, cleaning the gutters, taking stuff out of the basement and reorganizing," said Vernon.
"They’re doing all the stuff I should be doing so she’s probably happy about that," joked Eben Cathey, the homeowner.
Cathey has a lot on his plate between his full-time job, two spirited little ones and his wife Evan fighting ALS.
"Families battling ALS have a lot of challenges," said Cathey.
Consider the volunteers, the reinforcements. Most of them belong to the same fraternity, Phi Delta Theta, but are working on behalf of the Live Like Lou Foundation. Lou, as in Lou Gehrig.
"We’re just helping him out with dad stuff that he doesn't have time for because he’s caring for his wife," said Vernon. "Whenever we get a chance to help out like this, especially an incredible couple like this, we’re not going to miss the chance."
The Live Like Lou Foundation prides itself on service projects, but like the rest of us, they've had to retool their operations due to COVID-19.
"It’s been way harder to get out into the community and help out because people have just been locked up and in quarantine and cooped up," said Vernon.
But it wasn't all grunt work. There was time for giggles with Evan and Eben's children too.
"I think my kids are having a blast with these guys," said Cathey.
A big part of "Living Like Lou" is loving and fighting for these families too.
"They become advocates for ALS treatment and cures and help spread awareness about the disease," said Cathey.
That starts with ordinary projects that have an extraordinary impact. "It is truly a huge blessing for us," Evan Campa said.
If you'd like to learn more about the Live Like Lou Foundation, click here: https://livelikelou.org/
