Friends! I am beyond excited to be involved with a wonderful group of people who are assembling (what is shaping up to be) the event of 2016. Gather ‘round and hear all about it …

You can’t miss the Inaugural Roswell Mardi Gras Ball on Saturday, February 6, 2016 at the Country Club of Roswell. Hosted by the Krewe from Voilá Salon, this fundraiser will benefit the Emory University ALS Center and the Roswell Women’s Club. We’ll have an amazing silent auction featuring local and national works of art, jewelry, and fantastic vacation getaways, as well as a live auction of jaw-dropping adventures and one-of-a-kind pieces of art. What’s that? You need entertainment? How about some New Orleans jazz from Ruby Red’s Band and aerial silk dancing from Sky Gym, plus a live portrait paint-off with artists from the Portrait Society of Atlanta. What to wear? The theme is “Bowties and Pearls.” The bar will be open and the hors d’oeuvres will be heavy.

This event has special meaning for me on two levels. I’ve been closely tied to Voilá since before it was born – really – and have cheered Scott Law and Manuela Davis on as they have hosted the Art & Soul fundraiser for several years. The depth of their connection to Roswell and their commitment to service are among their loveliest traits. Plus, they throw a hell of a party.

Many of you know that I’ve worked as a freelance writer/editor for years, chiefly in the public health realm for the CDC. As part of this l-o-n-g career, I’ve been privileged to support CDC and its sister agency, ATSDR, in projects focused on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig’s disease. Most of us remember the Ice Bucket Challenge from last year; many of us aren’t fully aware of the devastation that ALS wreaks.

I’ve witnessed the bravery and commitment of ALS patients, families, loved ones, caregivers, clinicians, and researchers as they work to understand this terrifying, progressively neurodegenerative disease. It strikes out of the clear blue sky. It affects people regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. It creeps on slowly and may take someone’s ability to speak; to walk; to think clearly; to feed himself; to breathe; or all of the above and more. Its causes are unknown, but science and hard work are bringing us slowly toward understanding its origins, slowing its progression, and finding its cure.

It’s rare that I get to put my feet on the ground to champion a cause I’ve learned about at work. I’m thankful to Voilá for this opportunity. I’m asking my friends to join me in taking every baby step we can toward ending this disease and, in the meantime, easing the burdens on the patients and caregivers who live with it every day.

The fun starts at 7 p.m. and the tickets are $100, available at www.voilakrewe.com. There’s more information with our friends at the Roswell Women’s Club: http://www.roswellwomansclub.org/. The silent auction will be open soon for you to start stalking and bidding on items! Please contact me if you have any questions about the event. Or want to share an Uber.

See you on the 6^th! Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Study up on your party:

Ruby Red’s Band: http://www.rubyredsband.com/

Sky Gym: http://www.aerialsilksatlanta.com/

Portrait Society of Atlanta: http://portraitsocietyofatlanta.org/

Country Club of Roswell: http://www.ccroswell.com/

Great resources to learn more about ALS are the ALS Association: http://www.alsa.org/ and the Emory ALS Clinic: http://www.neurology.emory.edu/ALS/