March Volunteers of the Month: Eric and Allie Brunner

When Eric Brunner began noticing weakness in his grip in early 2020, ALS was the furthest thing from his mind. At just 33 years old, he assumed slower typing and difficulty lifting weights were temporary setbacks. But as the months passed, the signs became harder to ignore. During the COVID lockdown, he experienced an increasing weakness in his arms and hands. By the fall, frequent tripping during runs and intense clonus in his legs led to a long journey of virtual appointments, self-advocacy, and persistence.

In November 2020, at his first appointment with Dr. Colin Quinn at Penn, Eric received his ALS diagnosis.

For Eric and his wife Allie, sharing the news with family was devastating. Like many, they had little prior exposure to ALS and believed it to be a rare disease that affected older adults. Since that moment, their understanding, and their mission, has transformed.

After Eric’s diagnosis, a heartfelt welcome packet from ALS United Mid-Atlantic arrived in their mailbox. At the time, the couple felt overwhelmed and unsure of what support they might need. Anne Cooney, one of ALS United Mid-Atlantic’s social workers, began reaching out regularly, offering steady reassurance even before assistance was requested.

Over time, Eric and Allie came to understand that ALS United Mid-Atlantic would be their first call for help — whether for emotional support, resources, or equipment. Through the organization, they have secured essential items like a sit-to-stand recliner and a swivel shower chair, and have found community at caregiver days, ALS United Walks, and luncheons.

“We are so grateful for ALS United,” Allie shares.

Both Eric and Allie are graduates of art universities in Philadelphia. Creativity has always been central to their lives and now, it has become central to their ALS journey.

“Art is definitely a form of therapy and survival for both of us,” they explain. As Eric’s physical abilities changed, he adapted his creative process, learning new techniques and mastering new tools. Art has provided both emotional processing and mental escape during the most difficult moments.

That creative resilience culminated in Flickering Souls: Illuminating ALS, a powerful installation currently on display at the Free Library of Philadelphia.

The installation features 256 3D-printed portraits of individuals living with or lost to ALS. The portraits flicker with light, symbolizing the flickering of motor neurons affected by the disease. The process of printing the portraits alone took 700 hours, followed by nearly two years of building and collaboration with friends and family to bring the structure to life.

The opening night was deeply moving, especially as Eric and Allie met families connected to the faces they had spent years creating.

Their goal is clear: to bring ALS into public spaces, to take it out of the “echo chamber,” and to spark awareness among those who may not yet understand the disease. They hope to bring the installation to other cities and continue introducing new audiences to the ALS community.

Flickering Souls: Illuminating ALS is open to the public at the Parkway Central Library through March 27, 2026, during regular Heim Center hours. Admission is free.

When asked what lessons they would share, their message is grounded and powerful:
“There is so much that is out of your control with this disease. It’s important to feel prepared, but try not to worry too much about what’s ahead. Be present in this moment. Whatever is ahead will be handled when you get there.”

Eric and Allie may not have initially set out to become advocates, but their impact speaks for itself. Through social media awareness, participation in support groups, community events, and now a large-scale public art installation, they are using their voices and talents to uplift the ALS community.

They encourage others to volunteer because they understand firsthand how vital that support is. From everyday tasks that help families survive to larger advocacy efforts that push change forward, volunteers make an immeasurable difference.

“As anyone who has seen this disease up close can understand, people with ALS need support, and those to be voices of advocacy for us. This disease forever changes everyone who comes into contact with it, and I only hope that all of the wonderful volunteers who dedicate their time can feel how much their hard work pays off. We need volunteers to help us, from mundane tasks that are survival, to the bigger advocacy work.”

Eric and Allie Brunner are transforming personal hardship into public impact using art, presence, and advocacy to illuminate ALS in ways that will continue to ripple outward.

ALS United Mid-Atlantic is honored to recognize them as our March Volunteers of the Month.