Caroline Potter
Los Angeles Marathon Fundraiser

Hi There!

My name is Caroline Potter. When my mother was diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), my entire world shattered. I felt lost, isolated, and overwhelmed by grief. However, each time I return home to my six siblings and parents, I am reminded of a love deeper than I have ever known. A love that isn’t perfect, but unwavering. 

Growing up in a large family, it is a daily challenge of having to mesh nine different personalities together. Most of the time, we fail terribly, but in some twisted way, it makes the ride of life all that more enjoyable. 

Through laughter, tears, and even the hardest days, we’ve learned to keep choosing each other, over and over again. We hold each other’s pain. We go to war for each other. We know each other by heart. And each of our individual presence’s alone made us all feel less scared. 

Now, that’s not to say it’s all been rainbows and butterflies … because it hasn’t. We fight. And we fight A LOT. We scream. We cry. We curse. And we have some really bad days. But we also have our ups- and those are the one’s worth noting. 

This ride has been full of tenderness and it has shown me just how loyal love can be. That kind of love, that kind of beauty, exists here, on this very earth. 

I don’t say all this to pity me, or my siblings, or my parents because trust me when I tell you the last thing we want is for you to feel sorry for us. Instead, I tell you this because I wish more people would understand that our hearts deserve to be held. We are meant to be burdens. Humans rely on and support one another, and it’s not a bother, it’s our purpose - to love and be loved in return. 

On March 16, 2025, I will be running the LA marathon in honor of my mother and all families affected by ALS. ALS is a degenerative neuromuscular disease for which there is currently no cure.  It is 100% fatal, and the average lifespan is 3-5 years after diagnosis, although the path of progression varies widely.

This is my first marathon, and I am honored to be raising money for the Kevin W. Donovan Foundation. The mission of the foundation is to help those diagnosed with ALS  to LIVE life to the fullest with ALS by making wonderful memories with family and friends. They do this by providing financial assistance to pALS (persons living with ALS) for travel, attending a special event, or fulfilling a unique adventure of their choice. My mom was able to spend a week at the beach with her family, thanks to the foundation.

As someone who believes in the importance of developing meaningful and supportive relationships with others, it was an easy decision for me to raise funds for this cause. The foundation, run by Shelly Donovan and her family, has been an incredible support to so many. They understand firsthand the impact ALS has on families, and I am proud to stand alongside them to raise awareness and funds to help other ALS families.

If you’re able to donate by clicking on the button above and/or share this with others, it would mean the world to me! Thank you for your support - together, we can make a difference. 

God is still good. 

xx,

Car