Raleigh man recently diagnosed with ALS stays positive, participates in annual walk for research

David Lloyd was among more than 25,000 people who walked through downtown Raleigh Saturday for the Defeat ALS Walk to fund research.

ALS has no cure, but 47-year-old Lloyd said one of the positives of the devastating diagnosis is he better sees the beauty of life.

Lloyd was diagnosed in October after he went to the doctor for weakness and pain in his hand.

“I always assumed that tomorrow is assured,” David Lloyd said. “The first night was one of the toughest of my life, if not the toughest.”

The healthy and fit father said he never thought a terminal diagnosis was possible.

“I have 10- and 12-year-old children. I have a wife that I love dearly. I have family that I care a lot about. I felt like I was teeing up for a good back nine of life,” David Lloyd said.

The disease breaks down nerve cells causing muscles to stop, often cutting life too short.

“It took several weeks for it to sink in that it was actually happening to me, but it is,” David Lloyd said.

Lloyd’s wife, Kristan, said her method for coping is treasuring the now.

“You don’t know if David is going be able to walk in three months, you don’t know if David is going to be able to talk in three months,” she said. “So again, you have to live each day.”

More than 100 people who love David walked on his team – Team Honey Badger.

“Every morning, I come see him, and I let him know I love him so much and when he gets bad, I’ll always be there for him, and I can always help him,” Lloyd's daughter said.

The walk has raised more than $337,000 for the ALS Association in North Carolina, which is 73 percent of their goal of $460,000.

In addition to funding research, the money provides support for local families living with ALS.