At the age of 50, Joan Dancy, a mother of two from Middletown, NJ, was told that she had ALS. She was also told that there was no cure for the disease.

Joan and her fiance, Terry Magovern, found that despite the dense population and numerous medical centers in the area, there were very few resources available locally to help people afflicted with ALS. One of the closest avenues for support is the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the ALS Association.

Before Joan passed away, she asked Terry to change that situation. It was her wish to establish a grassroots organization to help ALS patients and their families in Monmouth and Ocean counties.

Joan’s hope became a reality when Terry founded the Joan Dancy & PALS (People with ALS) Foundation, an all-volunteer organization, in 2006. Recognizing that the disease impacts the everyday lives of the patient and their loved ones in many different ways, the Joan Dancy & PALS Foundation remains committed to improving quality of life in the ways that matter most.