Linda Agosti’s life changed forever on Sept. 21, 2021, the day she learned she had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

So, too, did the lives of her family as she began to fight the disease that affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.

“With terminal illnesses, sometimes the person facing them or the family facing them kind of feel powerless,” said her son, Nico Agosti. “With it being a progressive neurodegenerative disease, it has kind of been like a challenging task for all involved.”

While initial symptoms vary, the ALS Association notes that progressive muscle weakness and paralysis are experienced by all.

Nico said his family realized that they aren’t alone - that others also face similar challenges with their own loved ones.

The Agosti family, of Lake Hauto, began to think about how they could make a difference and decided to launch a nonprofit organization.

The Believe4Linda foundation was created in April.

“We wanted to attack this disease head on and do our part in helping as well,” said Nico, who serves as president.

The foundation will raise money to help with genetic research for ALS. It will also turn over donations to locals who are impacted by the disease.

“The financial burden can be tough on families,” Nico said.

To raise funds, Believe4Linda has a host of events planned for June 10 at Marian Catholic High School in Rush Township.

A basket raffle, walk and 3-on-3 basketball tournament will kick off at 9 a.m. A cornhole tournament is at noon.

“We will also have some live music there as well,” starting at noon, Nico said.

Concessions will be available all day. Nico expects the event will wrap by 6 p.m.

“As we began planning the event, we just got an outpouring of volunteers and donations, and people just offering to help in any way they can,” he said. “We are actually very blessed to have a community that love and support us.”

Donations for the basket raffle are welcome, and anyone willing to help can also still do so.

More information on how to assist the foundation can be found at www.believe4linda.org.

“We are planning to have future fundraisers and events to keep this foundation going,” Nico said. “So far it seems like we’ve had great support for us, so we kind of want to capitalize on that and just grow this foundation and our impact so we can further support our mission.

“We want to help build a community, spread awareness for this disease, this disorder. That’s our main mission. Our mission is to ‘Overcome ALS Together.’”