OUR STORY

Joe lost his battle with ALS in 2020. For two years, we (Joe’s family and friends) had watched him lose his ability to talk, to walk, and finally to breathe.

In the fall of 2021, we decided to get together and host a small walk with friends and family to raise some money for the Healey Center for ALS at Massachusetts General Hospital in support of their efforts to find a cure for ALS. We expected to raise a few hundred dollars and for approximately thirty people to come walk with us.

We did not expect for over 100 people to join our walk. We certainly did not expect to raise close to $15,000.

Following what would come to be known as the inaugural Walk to End ALS, we sat together and realized for the first time what a monumental impact we could have. The next year was spent on logistics. We formalized the Joseph Kiley Foundation as a registered nonprofit, launched our website and Facebook page, and got ready to host the second annual Walk to End ALS.

We were once again blown away by the support we received from our family, friends, neighbors, and the community at large. We raised over $20,000 with 17 corporate sponsors and (once again) over 100 walkers.

The success we’ve seen is entirely attributable to the person Joe was. Joe was the kind of guy who lit up every room he walked into. He was genuine, caring, and beyond dependable. Joe could make anyone laugh, even on their worst of days. Everyone who knew him loved him.

Joe’s legacy is carried on by his three sons – Sean, Ben, and Devin Kiley – and his granddaughter Josephine Kiley (named in honor of her Grandpa Joe). He is remembered fondly by his family and the countless friends he considered family.

It is those family and friends who make up the Joseph Kiley Foundation. Together, we strive to embody everything that made Joe who he was and give back to the community to which he was so dedicated.

Thank you for joining us in our fight to end ALS.