Supporting a Cure: “Lails Stand Strong” at Walk ALS

It is no accident that Terry Lail has been a devoted supporter of ALS Northwest for the past five years. On May 17, 2026, he and his family will return for their fifth Walk ALS event in SW Washington—showing up not just in presence, but for a purpose.

They don’t simply attend. Year after year, Terry rallies their family, raises funds, and shares their story for a cause that is deeply personal: a future without ALS. For the Lails, it’s not just about ending the disease for an individual—it’s about ending it in their family.

His Father’s Legacy 

Terry was only nine years old when his father, Reverend Robert Lail Jr., was diagnosed with ALS. At the time, the disease was most commonly associated with Lou Gehrig, and the Lails didn’t know anyone else who had it. Rev. Lail was a missionary, and the family wondered if his time in British West Africa might have somehow been connected.

He was diagnosed with bulbar-onset ALS, a form of the disease that first affects speech and swallowing. Over time, his voice faded, eating became difficult, and he began to lose mobility. Eventually, he relied on a cane. There were also signs of cognitive decline—symptoms that, back then, few understood as part of the disease. 

Looking back, Terry suspects his grandmother may have also had ALS, though she was never diagnosed. She died young, like his father, who passed at just 41. Terry learned that her behavior changed in ways that she didn’t feel like her—another mystery in a time when so little was known.

Even today, despite advances in awareness, the average time to receive an ALS diagnosis is about a year. 

Loss Across Generations 

ALS and related conditions would touch the Lail family again. 

In 2018, Terry’s oldest brother, Joe, passed away from frontotemporal dementia (FTD) at age 65. It was through his diagnosis that the family first learned about the hereditary C9 gene mutation. Joe’s earliest symptoms showed up as changes in behavior, just like what other family members had experienced. 

Not long after, Terry’s youngest brother, Ted, was diagnosed with bulbar-onset ALS. His decline was swift. He passed away just six months later at the age of 60. 

In the midst of that loss, Terry and his wife found a measure of peace in being able to walk alongside Ted’s wife, Sarah, and their family—helping to prepare for his burial and honor his life together. 

Moving Forward 

In 2022, Sarah was contacted by ALS Northwest. Not long after, Terry decided to form a Walk ALS team.

They had experienced firsthand the support and resources Ted received, and they wanted to ensure that others living with ALS would have access to that same care and community. 

For the Lails, raising awareness is part of their efforts. It means more research into ALS and its genetic links. And it means funding services and support systems that didn’t exist when Terry’s father was diagnosed decades ago.

Choosing How to Live 

Today, many members of the Lail family have made a deeply personal choice: they do not want to know whether they carry the gene. For them, life is not something to spend waiting for symptoms. Instead, they focus on here and now.

Their home tells that story. At Easter, it’s filled with color and intention—decorations carefully placed for the joy of their children and grandchildren. Out in their backyard, wisteria, daphne, and begonias bloom across the yard. Inside, every detail reflects a life lived with care and presence.

Terry brews kombucha as if tomorrow is something to look forward to. Every flower, inside and out, is a quiet reminder to be present and to savor life to the fullest.

Through it all, the Lails continue to show up—strong, together, and determined that their story will help bring an end to ALS.