Smart is Sexy for ALS

Thank you for nominating me on behalf of Smart is Sexy to help support and bring awareness to ALS. So naturally in true Cali style, especially being a company from Malibu, California – I took the challenge to where the sun, iconic palm trees and freeeeeeezing cold pacific water meet to show my support. As California continuously battles a drought we thought it would be smart to use the freezing ocean water for the challenge as to not waste any water while remaining authentic to the freezing temperature the challenge called for.
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So all this ice bucket talk…. but what is ALS?

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) [also known as Lou Gehrig] is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually lead to their death. When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, patients in the later stages of the disease may become totally paralyzed.*

It’s good to laugh and participate to bring awareness but also to remember why you are doing this. To make a difference.

*text from ALS.org – Also read about how much the Ice Bucket challenge has raised for ALS.

Causes like these are important, because it reminds us that we don’t live in this world alone. We are ALL a family – to love and support one another, not just because we know someone affected by ALS or because we fear a future diagnosis. We support these causes and give back to the community by being able to make a Smart is Sexy choice: to invest in ourselves and others because we believe in a better tomorrow. We begin by first educating ourselves. Then, by supporting a cause and bringing awareness. We invest in others because at the end of the day our quality of life is affected by each one’s contribution to themselves and those around them.

ALS Stephanie Marinello

“Why should I support a cause?”

What if we tear a sheet out of Delta Tau Delta’s creed who demonstrated more then just bronzed bods and beach hair, in Malibu that day. Their fraternity represents what power, faith, courage and truth can be in a brotherhood in higher education. But we won’t just tell you, we will show you!

Being Smart is Sexy means knowing the power YOU possess. When you begin by making the best actions for yourself, you are then able to establish a better sense of self worth. One that recognizes yourself to be a powerful resource – capable to contribute something meaningful. By investing in yourself you show you have the capabilities to be able to be there for someone else – a friend, a lover, a brother, a sister, your neighbor. It’s the notion that you can do something special – you can affect people in very positive ways by being able to show you can support something that is worth fighting for.

What speaks to you? What touches your heart? If we fail those in need we loose the most important piece in ourselves; using our abilities to give love. In the absence of certainty, which is the case for most medical causes that don’t have a cure or need funding for research, our understanding of what is already good in our own lives becomes tested. Do you have the determination to keep it – to fight for it? To make each day….each person worth fighting for. You have the courage to accept these challenges. The challenges are to allow yourself to be moved by the drive you have to help others because ultimately you know it helps yourself.

Have you ever been in the presence of someone who is thankful for something you did to or for them? I’m talking about REALLLLY thankful – someone who passionately expresses their gratitude to you? REMEMBER that feeling? ….It felt good, and I mean damn good!! Fight for THAT feeling…

So maybe we should never hold back, never stop pushing for something better….what do we have to loose if we try?  If you improve the quality of the lives around you it directly affects YOUR quality of life. Don’t give up! But in order to not give up on others, you first have to start…

ALS Stephanie MarinelloALS Stephanie Marinello

 Smart is Sexy.

Support a Cause,

Because Better is Possible.

What charity do you really connect with? (Leave the name of the charity below, I read every comment!)

3 responses to “Smart is Sexy for ALS

  1. What a fun way to show support and promote a good cause. Thank you and congratulations for doing all this in a smart way.

  2. Hello there!
    In my opinion all charity’s are a good choice. The sentence part “support a cause, because better is possible” is a very nice one! It’s true that you could always make it better, but being satisfied with what you have is necessary as well. Being there for friends who are in need is an incredible gift. It makes not only your friend feel better but also yourself. Be Self-confident and always see, that today is an awesome gift.

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