On Sunday, September 20, Pope Leo XIV gave a shoutout to Harvey and Bonny Gaffen during his message for participants of the ALS Walk for Life in his hometown of Chicago.
“May I give a special word of greeting to Harvey and Bonny Gaffen. For nearly 50 years, Mr. and Mrs. Gaffen, you have sustained the memory — no, the life of Les Turner. Your love of Mr. Turner, and your devotion and energy, have enriched the lives of many people. Look around you today. All these people are here because of you — the greatness of your heart. Thank you, Harvey and Bonny,” said Pope Leo XIV.
But who are Harvey and Bonny Gaffen?
Harvey and Bonny Gaffen are two of the co-founders of the Les Turner ALS Foundation, named after Harvey’s brother-in-law and best friend, Les Turner. The other co-founders are Les and his wife, Ina Turner.
Les Turner was diagnosed with ALS at the age of 36 in 1976. He first began showing symptoms of the disease while he was on vacation with Harvey Gaffen, said the website for the Les Turner ALS Foundation.
As there was little-to-no information and research being done about ALS at the time, the Gaffens and the Turners, “out of love for Les,” created the foundation in 1977 to raise money for ALS research in the United States.
The couples had a goal to open the country’s first research lab dedicated to studying ALS, and that goal was achieved in 1979 at Northwestern University.
Pope Leo XIV praised the work of his lab in his message.
In the last 10 years — using all your knowledge and compassion to understand motor neuron diseases and to alleviate the sufferings those diseases cause — you have made remarkable progress. I, like everyone here, am deeply grateful to you. For the countless hours you spend alone trying to find a path forward in your inquiries or searching for resources to continue your valuable work, to the men and women doing scientific research at the Les Turner ALS Center at Northwestern Medicine and elsewhere, please accept my gratitude and my encouragement.
A lasting legacy
But for the Gaffens, they are incredibly proud of not only their work raising awareness, but also their efforts in keeping their friend's memory alive.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the fact that we were able to enshrine Les Turner’s name in perpetuity and make a meaningful difference in the lives of people living with ALS and families throughout the world. There’s no way we could fathom the Foundation of today,” said Harvey in 2019.
Unfortunately, Les Turner did not get to see the fruits of his friends’ hard work. He died in 1978, barely two years after he was diagnosed.
Both Harvey and Ina remain on the board of directors for the Les Turner ALS Foundation, nearly 50 years after its creation. They are still involved in fundraising and advocacy for ALS research.
