Pandemic Life 2021
Hi all. It’s been a long while since we’ve posted on here so I figured I’d jump on to give a quick update. The past two years, since the start of the pandemic we have had to adapt to a lot of changes. But nothing that we couldn’t handle. Bobby has not been able to get out of the house as much as before because of the restrictions but we are still able to see friends and family safely.
This past summer we were able to get together with part of Team What about Bobby and go for a bike ride around ocean drive to commemorate the tri-state trek since it had to be changed to a virtual event. We went to one day of Jazzfest with Page. We saw Dead and Company on Julie’s birthday after we had massive flooding on our street. We got to visit with friends by our garden and play ball with Zulu. But, the best part of this summer was getting to be a part of Bonnie’s wedding. Bobby was a groomsman and he dyed his hair to match the bridesmaid’s dresses. Here are some pictures
We ended the summer running in a 5k, Finish for a Guinness, in Warren, RI with friends Aly, Leo and Amelia. The fall was spent cleaning out the basement and garage and enjoying spooky season with the Jack-o-lantern spectacular, a Dr. Gasp show for Aly’s birthday, and watching Halloween movies.
As we transitioned into the holiday season and the cases started going up, we had to be extra cautious. We didn’t do anything big for Thanksgiving or Christmas but we were able to see the ones that matter the most to exchange gifts and spend quality time together. The silver lining to self isolating / quarantining, you appreciate the time you get to spend with your loved ones more.
We ended the year 2021 with the passing of the ACT for ALS bill. To learn more click here.
This will hopefully be a huge step in making real progress for ALS therapies.
2018 recap
Happy New Year! It's been a while since we updated everyone on what Bobby's been doing so I wanted to do a little recap of all the good stuff that has happened this year!
In March we had the 4th annual Beers for Bobby at O'Briens in Newport. We had a great turnout and plan on having the 5th annual Beers for Bobby on February 23rd. Hope to see you all there!!
In April, the amazing people at Newport Storm crafted another specialty brew for Bobby and we held a launch party at the brewery. The brew was a double IPA aged in whiskey barrells. It was distributed to various liquor stores in RI and PA.
This summer, Team What About Bobby rode in the ALS TDI tri-state trek for the 4th year in a row. This year was especially exceptional thanks to Bobby's friend Leo who created a bike using a pedicab frame and a special seat donated by the late David Leys, a fellow PALS. For the first time since his ALS diagnosis, Bobby was able to get back on a bike and ride with his friends. He rode the last mile of the trek with his team surrounding him, the smile never left his face. Not only did the team nearly double in size, they were awarded the Forster Saling Spirit and Inspiration Award and raised close to $50,000 for ALS TDI. Later this year we found out that ALS TDI was starting their first clinical trial in humans for a new drug that was developed with the money that was raised!! A huge thank you to all that have donated and continue to donate to ALS TDI. With your help we can, we will, find a cure.
Throughout the summer and fall, we went on bike rides as much as we could. We went to Brenton Point State Park for the kite festival with a crew of people and it was awesome! Once the weather gets warmer, we’ll be back on the bike as much as possible.
In July, Bobby got his hot pepper tattoo from the one and only, Alycat Sunshine. Patty Haberstroh, a fellow PALS started the hot pepper challenge to promote and fund ALS research. Bobby wanted to participate but since he can no longer eat food by mouth, he was inspired by Aly to get a tattoo of a pepper after she gave herself a hot pepper tattoo in response to the challenge! The shit eating grin never left his face as he was getting that tattoo so it was no surprise when the following month he decided to get another tattoo, this time he decided he wanted to get "Love Life" and "Be Positive". After a bit of collaboration with Aly, we came up with the design and he decided he wanted to put it on his left hand as a daily reminder.
In August, we made a trip up to Boston, we went to a Red Sox vs Yankees game with Aly and Leo and watched the Red Sox kick some Yankee ass! The following night, we went to see Trombone Shorty perform at the Blue Hills Pavilion with his mom and sister. It was amazing! There were a ton of great bands. At the end of the concert they did a second line through the crowd and stopped briefly in front of us to give us a little show!
In September, we went to Reggaefest at Bold Point Park in East Providence to see Ziggy Marley, Steel Pulse and other reggae bands perform. It was a bit of a spontaneous decision but we pulled it off and had so much fun!
In October, we did a sunset pirate themed sail in the Newport Harbor. A special thanks to Leo for organizing, the crew of the Aurora Schooner for donating their time and Dr. Gasp for performing some cool and spooky tunes for us! Everyone dressed in pirate attire, drank beer had a great time and there may have been a butt cannon or two. Even though it was a bit chilly, the sunset was amazing and a great time was had by all!
In December we made a trip up to Boston with a few PALS and a bunch of friends to see the slutcracker! If you’ve never heard of the slutcracker, imagine the nutcracker but sluttier 😜. It is a burlesque version of the nutcracker and it was awesome!! This was their 10th year performing and Bobby’s 3rd time seeing it.
Thanksgiving and Christmas were wonderful, with family and friends coming to visit. This year has been filled with ups and downs, there have been many challenges but with the love and support of friends, family and complete strangers, Bobby is still living his best life despite his circumstance. He has remained healthy and out of the hospital. He is looking forward to great 2019. We have a few fundraisers planned for the first half of the year including the 5th annual Beers for Bobby at O’Briens in Newport on February 23rd, a polar plunge on St. Patrick’s day and many more still in the works so stay tuned. This year also marks a huge milestone for Bobby as he will be turning the big 3-0 on St Patrick’s day! We will be celebrating all weekend (maybe even all month) long so come join us!!
Hope everyone had a great 2018! Here’s to an even better 2019!!
We are moving!
WE ARE MOVING!!!
Bobby found a handicap accessible home in Middletown that fits all of his needs! It already has a ramp and roll-in shower and is also double the size of his current rental. He has been looking for a new home for over a year and are extremely excited for this more accessible home!
The ALS TDI Tri-State Bike Ride
It's that time again! Team Bobby Bicycles is about to lace it up for the ALS TDI Tri-State Bike Ride, There are three days left to the race and this will be the 3rd time team Bobby Will be participating. Here is a small blurb about the GoFundMe Page where you can donate and support a great cause. The Tri-State Bike ride raises much needed funds for the ALS community and each team can ride for an individual. Spread the Word!
Link: https://www.gofundme.com/bobbystrek2017
He iscalled "Bobby Bicycles" for a reason...and that is because for most of his adult life, Bobby Forster would spend his days riding on wheels. Whether it was operating a pedicab (bike taxi) in New Orleans, long boarding in his hometown of Beverly, MA, or just beach cruising with friends in Newport, RI, Bobby was always moving.
Bobby Forster (sitting front, center in cover photo) is now 28-years-old and is living with ALS, a neurological disease that causes the neurons that control voluntary muscles to degenerate. Bobby, who was diagnosed in 2014, is completely restricted to a wheelchair and has lost most of his physical functional abilities.
A group of Bobby's friends and family now comprise Team #WhatAboutBobby and we are participating in the TriState Trek 2017 for ALS research. We will be riding 270 miles from BOSTON TO NEW YORK on the weekend of June 23-25, 2017 in an effort to CURE ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease).
Bobby, a Beverly, MA native currently lives with his wife Casey in Newport, RI. The TriState Trek 2017 stands to benefit them and the ALS Therapy Development Institute (or ALS TDI) which is pioneering the treatments that may lead to a cure to the terrible disease.
“I’m lucky. I still have a lot of good times ahead of me,” says Bobby. “Live your life to the fullest. Do whatever you want to do each day and make each day count. But still, hold onto hope. There are a lot of incredible people working on research and working on the disease and a cure is coming.”
Please donate whatever you can and support Bobby's Team as we help fund research to cure ALS!
Bobo Fofo and Casey Return to The Big Easy!
For those who know Bobby and Casey, you know that the town of New Orleans Louisiana holds a special place in their hearts. Bobby has been known to drive from RI to NOLA in one day basically back and forth just so that he could get a taste of the Big Easy. He also took his pedi-cabbing exploits down to New Orleans growing his family from New England all the way down to the Bayou! However, NOLA is special for yet another reason, this is the place Bobby got down on one knee and asked Casey to be his loving wife forever cementing a relationship built on love, trust and genuine admiration. For those of us who have been fortunate to see them grow around each other, we have been blessed and been in awe of what true love means.
Due to Bobby's complications with ALS and the progression of his symptoms, the lovely couple has not been able to visit their second home for over a year. The last time they were there was April 2016. However! Thanks to a new shiny van and Bobby's improved health and an awesome team of caretakers and donations, the awesome couple was able to spend June 3rd to 10th in this place that holds a special place in their hearts. Here are a few pictures of their time down there. Thank you to everyone that made this possible.
Who Dat?!!!
Taking in some live music!
MIT AT Hackathon update!
Though we made a ton of progress, we didn't quite get the ball launcher working on Saturday. We unfortunately ended up needing a few extra parts that we hadn't anticipated. We are going to be ordering the remaining parts and will be finishing up this project in a few weeks.
The team did finish writing the code though and created the perfect user interface. I took this screen shot of it, but the program allows me to see the potential launch area, aim the launcher and even control the speed of the ball.
