Oak Park’s ComedySportz team raised over $2,000 in the ALS charity game Friday, Mar. 23.

The team donated 100 percent of the game’s proceeds to the ALS Golden West Chapter Non-Profit to support team member, senior Amanda Kristensen.

“My dad had been diagnosed with ALS in September of 2016 which is a degenerative neurological disease impacting my dad’s nervous system. And, in about a year from diagnosis he was wheelchair bound,” Kristensen wrote.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a nervous system disease that affects motor neurons –– weakening the muscles and reducing their functionality.

Senior and ComedySportz manager Meghan Cleary described the pain that was felt within the team for Kristensen’s family.

“ComedySportz is a family and when one of us is down, we do everything we can to support them,” Meghan Cleary said.

Kristensen said that she believed the charity game was a special one.

“It’s easier to bring awareness to people through humor and comedy than just through sadness,” Kristensen wrote.

Kristensen gave an emotional speech at halftime addressing the crowd and her father. During the speech, the team stood behind Kristensen, arms linked.

“We all stood behind Amanda as she gave her speech to show our support,” Meghan Cleary said. “One of the rules of improv is to always look out for your teammates while onstage, and it’s true offstage as well.”

Kristensen’s father’s presence and support is appreciated at the ComedySportz games.

“Peter Kristensen has such an amazing attitude and attends all the games with a huge smile on his face,¨ team advisor Debbie Cleary said.
During the game, money was also raised through the concessions and a donation box.

“People just dropped money and checks in a collection basket and paid $20 for a cookie or bottle of water,” Debbie Cleary said.

Kristensen said that she is grateful to be able to give back to the ALS Association.

“The game meant so much to my family because the ALS Association has helped us by providing canes, wheelchairs, other equipment and emotional support that has been beyond helpful during this really difficult time,” Kristensen wrote. “It was an indescribable feeling to be able to give back to an organization that has given so much to us.”