ALS hits home: Park City family rallies around daughter’s diagnosis

Meghan Kahn with her daughter (left) Sloan, 6, and son (right) Ari, 9. Kahn was diagnosed with ALS in August 2023. Photo: Kathy Anderson

PARK CITY, Utah — Supporting one of their own, the Park City community is rallying behind Meghan Kahn, who was diagnosed with ALS last August.

ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Kahn’s diagnosis has affected one of her legs, making her limp, and the disease’s progression will soon require her to be in a wheelchair, forcing her family to have to move to an ADA-accessible home, among other life changes.

Born and raised in Park City, Kahn attended Parley’s Park Elementary, Treasure Mountain Junior High, and graduated from Park City High School in 2003. She moved to Oregon for college, where she now lives with her husband and two children, ages 6 and 9. Kahn is currently an elementary school teacher in Portland.

Kahn’s family ties to Park City run deep, with her mother, Becky, serving as a teacher at both Parley’s Park Elementary and Trailside Elementary and her father, Bill, as a chemistry teacher at Park City High School for many years. Kahn’s brother, Ben, continues the family’s legacy in education, teaching 5th grade at Trailside Elementary. Kahn’s sister, Kat, works at a non-profit for the homeless in Salt Lake City.

The Park City community rallied together when Kahn found a cause that lit a fire in her.  She, along with her family and friends, are spearheading efforts to raise funds and awareness for ALS research and support.

On March 9, Kahn will participate in the SKI ALS Northwest fundraiser with a team of supporters, six of whom will be traveling from Park City to show their solidarity.

The fundraising campaign aims to make a tangible impact on ALS research while providing crucial support to those affected by the disease.

To contribute to the cause and support Kahn and her family in their fight against ALS, visit Meghan’s fundraising page.