Please consider donating to this great family for “Giving Tuesday”
By Kristin Quinn Cody, pictured are Corinna and Dustin Quinn
This Giving Tuesday, I want to say thank you on behalf of my family for the outpouring of community support we have received over the years as we’ve championed various causes related to ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. ALS is a neurodegenerative condition for which there is currently no treatment or cure. Approximately 10% of ALS cases are genetic, as is the case with our family, though the devastating disease can affect anyone at any time.
Whether it’s raising funds for ALS research or to support patients in Western New York, residents of Wellsville and the greater area are always willing to contribute their time, services, money, or well wishes without hesitation.
This past week, I initiated a fundraiser that is much more personal on behalf of my brother and sister-in-law, Dustin and Corinna (Cole) Quinn. Dustin has witnessed five family members live with and pass away from ALS, and our mother, Deb (McQueen) Quinn, is currently living with ALS. Building upon the efforts of our late Aunt Rhonda (McQueen) Burrous, who pursued the identification of a genetic marker during her illness, Dustin underwent genetic testing in 2011 and learned he is a gene carrier. This means it is highly probable Dustin will develop ALS and that he stands a 50% chance of passing on the gene.
Consider donating, any amount, today!! GoFundMe page
Dustin and Corinna hope to grow their family but want to protect their future child(ren) from ALS. They have chosen to pursue a combination of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT) to do so. This is an expensive endeavor that is not covered by their insurance.
Planning for this, Dustin and Corinna formed a side business, Quinn Home Inspections & Property Services, in 2022. Locals have likely seen them around Wellsville: a mowing/painting/cleaning team in their red Jeep Wrangler. While they have worked countless nights, weekends, and holidays they still fall short of the funds to achieve this dream.
In an effort to help them focus on their health rather than the financial pressures, I created a GoFundMe page on November 22. The outpouring of support since launching the page has been overwhelming, and in less than a week the fundraiser is already approaching two-thirds of its goal.
“Each share, comment, donation, and other acts or words of extraordinary kindness have meant so much to us,” Corinna said. “They are what makes Wellsville such a special place and why we have chosen to stay and to raise our family here.”
Dustin is a 2005 graduate of Wellsville Central School District and has worked for the Allegany County Health Department since 2010. Corinna is a 2007 Wellsville graduate and has been a familiar fixture in the office at a local utility company for more than a decade.
“We are so inspired and motivated by the deep generosity and compassion shared with us in the last few days,” Dustin said. “Someday we will be able to tell our child, ‘A whole community wanted you.’”
To learn more about Dustin and Corinna’s story or to donate, please visit their GoFundMe page.
Other ALS-related organizations to consider contributing to for Giving Tuesday include the ALS Therapy Development Institute and Hearts for ALS NY.
