Alison Comer
Ali has been a member of CAN since its inception. Ali is passionate about raising awareness about Coats' Disease and her energy and ideas have resulted in various initiatives we have developed over the past few years. She also serves as our newest member of the Foundation's Board of Directors.
We caught up with Ali to learn more about her and why the Coats' Ambassador Network is important to her...
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐭𝐬’ 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞?
My son, Mason, was diagnosed with Coats’ Disease when he was four months old. After processing the diagnosis, I vowed to do everything I could to raise awareness, funds, and find a cure for this rare disease.
𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐭𝐬' 𝐀𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 (𝐂𝐀𝐍)?
I joined the CAN so that I could partner with other Coats’ warriors and family members to brainstorm and share ideas about future Foundation initiatives. It is a safe place to share feelings with other people who truly understand the disease. I also want to help bring the same resources and comfort that I have found from the Jack McGovern Coats’ Disease Foundation to other people.
𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐀𝐍?
Looking ahead, I hope the CAN and its various committees can continuously welcome new members and fulfill the needs of current and future Coats’ patients and their families. I want the CAN to help raise awareness about Coats’ Disease and I want us to bring education to our schools and pediatric offices. I want to continue to build the mentor program to support Coats’ patients. Last, I want to raise money to fund research and student programs that will inspire the next generation of doctors and researchers to study this crazy disease that no one can seem to figure out. I want to FIND A CURE.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 (𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝/𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐛𝐛𝐢𝐞𝐬) 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐭𝐬’?
I work as a data analyst for the largest school district in Colorado. I LOVE volunteering at my son’s school and taking him to experience new things. I enjoy doing anything outdoors, reading, and traveling. I love spending time with our rescue dog, Oliver. Most of all, I love when I have the opportunity to be creative. My craft room is my happy place.
𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮?
I am motivated by the people around me. I grew up with some incredible peers and am now surrounded by people that are achieving great things. They continuously push me to do better and be more. The person who inspires me the most is my son. He has had to work incredibly hard to overcome being blind in one eye and the things that come with that at such a young age. He goes about his day, makes slight adjustments if needed, to allow him to participate in everything he wishes.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰?
I would love to own a ranch with acres as far as the eye can see. I would rescue every animal that needed a good home. As a part of that, I would love to be able to provide animal therapy to children who need it for any reason at no cost to their family or caregivers.
𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐭𝐬’ 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬?
I want all of our patients, families, and friends to know what an honor it is to serve you. I want to help bring the resources and comfort that I have found from this Foundation to all of you. I will not rest until everyone has heard of the Jack McGovern Coats’ Disease Foundation; every patient feels at ease and like they have a place to belong; and I will not stop this work until a cure is found.
