Connected by shared ALS journeys, two families turned adversity into hope through a simple act of generosity – a van that now symbolizes freedom, love, and the promise to give again.
By Pete Mercer
Have you ever had a chance to pay something forward? This might be a scenario where you receive a gift so generous that it almost doesn’t even belong to you – you just have the opportunity to use it for a while before it goes to the next person who needs it. The concept of “paying it forward” isn’t new, but it’s one of those situations of overwhelming kindness that you practically don’t hear about anymore.
Chris and Julie Godfrey, or Team Godfrey, are account managers at CME Corp. where they sell medical equipment to different healthcare organizations across the country. Repertoire Magazine spoke to the Godfreys back in 2023 about finding success and a work-life balance amid a devastating diagnosis of ALS. While Chris’ disease has continued to progress, he still maintains as much independence as possible while continuing to work at CME with Julie. Earlier this year, they reached out to us about a development in Chris’ health journey. This is a story about the gift of generosity and an opportunity to pay it forward.
Meeting the Cunninghams
Cheryl and Mike Cunningham got married in 1996 and would have celebrated their 29th wedding anniversary this past Easter Sunday. Mike was diagnosed with ALS on June 9, 2023, and passed away on Jan. 17, 2025. The Cunninghams were introduced to the Godfreys through a mutual friend, bonding over Chris and Mike’s shared diagnosis.
Cheryl Cunningham said that throughout Mike’s journey with ALS, the Godfreys were a huge resource for how to navigate the progression of the disease. Mike’s ALS started in his right leg, and the Cunninghams were able to help Chris as his ALS spread down from his shoulders. “We were really a support to one another for resources, organizations, and the emotional journey,” Cheryl said.
In August 2023, friends of the Cunninghams created a fundraiser for them that raised over $80,000. This allowed them to purchase a 2023 Chrysler Pacifica wheelchair van, which is an accessibility vehicle for people who are confined to wheelchairs. This was a huge benefit for the Cunninghams, allowing them to travel from Boston to Florida to see family. With the van, they were able to be gone for a month
“Having the van allowed us to bring all the equipment that comes with ALS,” Cheryl said. “That van provided us with the comfort of everything he would’ve needed at home. The front seat came out of the van, so he was able to sit in front as a passenger next to me. Even just having that alone time together made everything feel somewhat normal.”
While in Florida, they were able to see all their friends and family, celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a bar crawl, enjoy what they could of the beaches, and eat and drink a ton. This vehicle enabled them to establish some independence back into their lives, allowing Cheryl to truly enjoy and soak in every moment she had left with her husband.
“Mike was just that great guy,” Cheryl said. “As a testament to who he was, we had over 1,000 people at his service. He was a hard worker, always behind the desk, but his dream was to swing a hammer and fix things. He was a great dad to our kids – we have a boy and a girl. He could braid her hair and then hop on the lacrosse field with my son and coach. I don’t think he’s ever had an enemy, and he died with zero regrets.”
An act of generosity
These accessibility vehicles are an incredible tool for people who have mobility challenges, but they are very expensive, in the range of $80,000 to $85,000. The Godfreys had just spent a good deal of time and money making their home more accessible for Chris’ electric wheelchair – things like adding a lift in the garage, as well as widening doorways so that the chair could get through. A new mobility van wasn’t exactly in the budget at that moment, so they decided to wait.
After Mike Cunningham died, Cheryl knew that she wouldn’t need the van anymore, but she didn’t have a plan for what to do next. While speaking with Julie over the phone, Cheryl learned that they were interested in buying a van but were surprised by how much they cost. They offered to purchase the van from Cheryl, but she decided to give it to them, no strings attached.
“I knew the van was meant to go to them” Cunningham said. “I didn’t have a real plan, but I knew I wasn’t keeping the van. It just felt like this was supposed to help somebody else. It’s not for me to sell and make money off. Since doing so, I think it’s providing them with the freedom, flexibility, and joy that it brought us.”
Because of this act of generosity, the Godfreys have been able to recapture some of their independence without relying on others to transport them around. “You’re held hostage by your disease,” Julie said. “If you can’t afford to purchase one of these vehicles, you must call somebody every time you want to just go out for dinner or go for a drive to a park or something. And it’s just amazing that the generosity that they put forward for us.”
Moving forward, the Godfreys plan to pay it forward one day, just like Cheryl Cunningham did for them. Whether it’s through the creation of a foundation or just a simple understanding, the vision for this van is that it’s well-kept and maintained to be used for families for many years to come. Julie and Chris both want this van to be given away in the same spirit of generosity as it was given to them.
“We just plan on having it be a gift for someone in the future. Hopefully, it’s a gift that gives them a better quality of life, and then they will pay it forward to the next person who needs it,” Julie said.
Maintaining a work-life balance at CME
One of the biggest challenges with ALS is it greatly reduces mobility and independence, which can deal a heavy blow to one’s productivity at work. Some people are unable to work, while others can find accommodations to make things more accessible.
Through CME, Chris has been able to maintain a work-life balance that allows him to keep his job and his accounts, while also prioritizing his health and time with his family. Eva Willis, vice president of business development at CME, said, “Our culture overall certainly is that your family comes before your work. CME’s executive team is very supportive of that and displays that themselves. Everyone works very hard at CME, but if you need to do something for your family or for your health, that comes first.”
When she found out about the accessibility van, Willis was overjoyed about the opportunities and possibilities this gift would open up for the Godfreys. “When they told me about the van … I said, ‘You guys made my whole week,’ because it’s so rare that you hear great news about people helping each other and not financially getting anything in return. It’s such a good piece of news in what is typically a very negative news cycle.”
Willis’ leadership role at CME gives her a unique perspective into the working dynamics of Team Godfrey. With ALS, attending something like a sales meeting is a significant obstacle, so the team at CME has gone above and beyond to ensure that the Godfreys are still included by having them join virtually, where they can chime in and participate in the conversation.
Because Chris has been an integral part of the sales team since 2014, the team at CME values all his contributions and the working relationship that he has with Julie. Willis said, “Together they are really strong, and without Julie’s support, I think it would be much more difficult for Chris, and vice versa. He has so much product knowledge, industry knowledge, and sales experience, and he’s great at guiding and mentoring Julie. Julie has more physical capability at this point, and they balance it really well.”’
The Godfreys aren’t forgetting about the life side of the equation when working towards a better work-life balance. Whether they are focusing on just getting outside after the day is done, taking a road trip to see the National Baseball Hall of Fame (Chris and Julie are Yankees fans) in Cooperstown, New York, or going to visit Julie’s sister in the Finger Lakes, the Godfrey’s are taking advantage of every moment – and one day, they’re going to give that gift to someone else.
