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Co-chairpersons, ALS Division
PERSONAL
HISTORY
Chris, 39, received a diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
(ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease) in October 2001. The
disease has affected his strength and mobility, and has caused
his speech to slur. Chris occasionally uses a speech-generating
device to assist with communication. He remains ambulatory
but sometimes uses orthopedic equipment to aid his mobility.
ALS destroys the nerve cells controlling muscles in healthy
adults, ultimately causing complete paralysis while leaving
mental function intact. Survival is typically two to five
years after diagnosis without respiratory intervention, and
no cure exists.
HOME AND FAMILY
The Rices live in a suburb of Houston with their three children:
Tori, 8, Mason, 6, and Shelby, 4.
Chris continues to work for Lincoln Property Co., a nationwide
residential and commercial real estate firm. He manages information
technology for the company’s South Texas region. Reda
is a stay-at-home mom.
The Rices enjoy family time with their children, are involved
with their church and strive to live “as normal a life
as possible” in the face of ALS.
MDA INVOLVEMENT
The Rice family takes part in local MDA fund-raising activities,
finding these events an outlet for the frustration of living
with ALS. Chris and Reda say they’ve found a “new
family” in MDA staff and other people with ALS who are
seen at the Ronny & Linda Finger MDA/ALS Center at Baylor
College of Medicine in Houston.
A profile of the family was broadcast nationwide on the 2003
Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon, and the couple appeared on the live
show.
MDA’s ALS DIVISION
MDA is the world leader among voluntary agencies in fighting
ALS, offering the most comprehensive range of services of
any voluntary health agency in the nation. People with ALS
receive care at 30 MDA/ALS centers or at any of some 230 MDA
clinics across the country. MDA also leads the search for
a treatment or cure for ALS through its aggressive, worldwide
research program.
As co-chairs of the ALS Division, the Rices help raise awareness
of MDA’s leadership in the battle against ALS through
public appearances, speaking engagements, media interviews
and public service announcements. They also stimulate support
for MDA’s ALS Division and help other families cope
with the disease’s many challenges.
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