The Hope Happens Story

Our mission is to improve the lives of people with neurodegenerative disorders by promoting collaborative, translational research with the potential to fast-track new cures.

Our focus is on a small family of neurological disorders, including ALS, Alzheimer’s disease, Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, traumatic spinal cord and brain injury and stroke. Our cutting-edge model of doing research rests on Chris Hobler's conviction that fundamental discoveries about one disorder can lead to treatments and cures for others.

Hope Happens was founded in 2002 as ALS HOPE by Christopher Hobler and his family after he was diagnosed with ALS in 2001, the same disoder that took the life of his  late grandfather, James A. Maritz, Sr., and his cousin, Christopher Rice, of Houston, Texas.

In November of 2004, Hope Happens partnered with Washington University to launch the Hope Center for Neurological Disorders at Washington University in St. Louis, a research center dedicated to speeding the process of translating basic scientific discoveries into therapies and cures. Both partners are convinced that discoveries in one disorder will lead to progress with others.

The model of doing research at the Hope Center is unique. Although it makes every kind of sense, it has never been done before. The Hope Center is pioneering this new model of doing research by sharing (1) information and (2) core facilities.

Our focus is on a small family of neurological disorders, including ALS, Alzheimer’s disease , Cerebral Palsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, traumatic spinal cord and brain injury and stroke. Our cutting-edge model of doing research rests on Chris Hobler's conviction that fundamental discoveries about one disorder can lead to treatments and cures for others.

As the organization's focus broadened from its original focus on ALS to this family of neurodegenerative disorders, it developed a governing board that reflects both this broader focus and the larger St.  Louis community.

Thanks to generous support from the broader community, Hope Happens has made $3.7 million in grants for innovative research, primarily to The Hope Center.

Imagine a world free from ALS, Alzheimer’s, Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy, MS, Parkinsons's, stroke and traumatic brain and spinal cord injury.

Disorders of the nervous system (the brain, spinal cord, nerves and muscles) are the most common causes of disability for people of all ages. 50 million Americans have a permanent neurological disability that limits thier daily activity and may be fatal.

Every day 7,650 Americans are diagnosed with a nerve-killing disorder—2½ the number as those who are diagnosed with cancer.
    -1 person is diagnosed with a prion disease.
    -4 people are diagnosed with Huntington’s disease.
    -14 adults receive a death sentence when diagnosed with ALS.
    -22 babies are born with cerebral palsy.
    -27 people learn they have multiple sclerosis.
    -36 suffer a spinal cord injury, including 6 who die of their injuries.
    -357 children are diagnosed with epilepsy.
    -380 people learn they have Parkinson’s disease.
    -961 learn they will lose their identity to Alzheimer’s.
    -2,000 suffer a stroke.
    -3,846 receive brain injuries (including 2,747 children)

Despite the enormous personal and social burden they cause, many of these disorders still have no effective treatments.

Seeking cures, valuing therapies
Hope Happens funds activities that hold the promise of finding cures for ALS and other, related, neurological disorders. We believe a discovery in one disorder will lead to discoveries in others. Our funding priorities include: early-stage translational research, neuro-regeneration, gene therapy, genetics and disease pathways, and protein aggregation.

Contributions to Hope Happens will help us:

• Conduct pioneering laboratory research leading to new knowledge and eventually cures
• Discover innovative approaches to nervous system therapy, regeneration, repair, and recovery
• Close the gap in funding that makes it difficult to bring good basic science ideas to patients
• Inspire collaboration by providing shared facilities, equipment, and laboratory resources

Be a part of the solution
You have the opportunity to join us in changing how research is conducted for neurological disorders. If your life has been affected by one of these terrible disorders, then please consider joining our cause. If your foundation or corporation is looking to be part of an efficient and effective scientific collaboration, consider joining our cause. If you have been frustrated by what you perceive as lack of progress in this realm of research, then join our cause. If you want input about what research to pursue, you’ll find us willing to listen and able to implement. 
Donate online