Forward, Together
February 23, 2026 Alisa Doctoroff
Over the past few days, we have lost two pillars of the ALS community to this disease: Eric Dane and Leah Stavenhagen. Their passing has left an unmistakable absence. At the same time, we have witnessed an extraordinary response, an outpouring of generosity from people who chose to honor Eric and Leah by supporting Target ALS. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has turned grief into action.
Target ALS was founded out of loss. My husband, Dan Doctoroff, created the organization after losing his father and uncle to ALS, driven by the belief that this disease demands urgency, collaboration, and a refusal to accept the status quo. Four years ago, my husband was diagnosed with ALS himself. This disease has taken so much from our family. Yet he is still fighting. Still believing that we can change what this diagnosis means.
Eric and Leah believed that, too.
They didn’t simply support our work here at Target ALS; they championed it. Eric served on our Board of Directors. Leah was a member of our ALS Advisory Group. Each used their voice, their platform, and their lived experience to move this mission forward. Their leadership strengthened our work and deepened our resolve.
Eric joined our Board because he trusted Target ALS to accelerate research and push the science forward. Even while facing ALS, Eric chose to use his time and his voice to help others. That generosity will stay with us.
Leah embodied courage and connection. Diagnosed at just 26, she built community, created space for others, and continually reminded us what it truly means to live with ALS. Her insight and leadership strengthened our work and deepened our understanding of ALS’s impact.
Their losses are heartbreaking, especially for their families and loved ones. They are also painful calls-to-action that there is urgent work left to do.
ALS does not wait. And neither can we.
Progress depends on momentum: sustained research funding, broad participation in studies, and a collective refusal to slow down. Without these efforts, there are no clinical trials. Without clinical trials, there are no effective treatments. That is the reality we are working to change.
To everyone who has stood with us in this moment, thank you. Your support honors Eric. It honors Leah. And it moves us closer to the future they believed in.
Today, our fight continues, deeply personal and profoundly urgent.
And we will not stop until we achieve our vision: a world where Everyone Lives.
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