“We make a living by what we get; but we make a life by what we give.” – Winston Churchill

From the time he was very young, Adam Benton had a desire to serve others. He dreamed of becoming a police officer and made that dream a reality at a young age, quickly earning the nickname “White Lightening” because he could outrun any fleeing suspect. Adam was known for his fairness, his desire to mentor youth and to provide second chances. He spent 21 years in law enforcement and was an incredibly devoted public servant.

At just 41, Adam was diagnosed with ALS – which changed his life. One of his sisters, Kris Bracy, remembers that he was resolute to make the most of the time he had with his two sons and to stay positive no matter the challenges thrust upon him by the disease. “Even though ALS eventually limited his physical abilities, he continued to face each day with courage and comic relief,” expressed Kris. Rather than feel sad about his situation, even once he was wheelchair-bound, Adam worked hard to make everyone around him feel at ease. “It was impossible to spend time with Adam without having lots of belly laughs,” said Kris. “He said he could have had a career as a sit-down comic!”

A model patient, Adam willed himself to be self-reliant, even when he could only move his head and one finger. And with the incredible life-changes Adam was dealing with, he was still always thinking of others. Kris remembered, “One year Adam did everything he could to put together an extra special Christmas for a family experiencing a medical crisis with their special needs child. Even though Adam, himself, had lost his ability to earn an income, he wanted to share what he did have with other people in need. I want to continue his legacy of giving.”

After Adam passed away, Kris was looking for a way to help keep his memory alive. Though Adam did not die from a stroke, Kris decided to give to BELIEVE – Stroke Recovery Foundation in his memory. She said that being able to share his story with others helps with the healing process. “I know firsthand how important it is to have the encouragement and support of others when you are dealing with physical challenges,” Kris explained. “There are many important causes to give to, but none are any more important than helping a person gain back his/her independence.”

If you would like to memorialize a loved one, click here and donate to BSRF in their memory. Every dollar goes directly to stroke and brain injury survivors who are working hard to regain their independence.