Donald Burton

Family and friends of Roger Burton are raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with his recent diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS. Roger has chosen to fundraise with Help Hope Live in part because donations are tax deductible for contributors and will only be used to cover medical and related expenses.

Roger was diagnosed with ALS in September 2024. His wife Claudia has become his primary caregiver, and through the help of ALS United and the medical team at Duke ALS Clinic in Durham, he has been receiving the necessary medical care to keep up with his ever changing condition. Despite all the new difficulties, Roger has been in good spirits, leaning on his family and faith to help him navigate this disease. From learning to drive and maneuver a power wheelchair, to communicating through the use of Eyegaze technology, he continues to amaze all of us.

Roger grew up in between Arkansas and Oklahoma, eventually pursuing a degree in Computer Science at Oklahoma University. From there he met Claudia while he was working in Texas, and they moved to Colorado where they started their family. They have two children, Zac and Katy, and have found joy in living a Christian lifestyle. Roger enjoyed hiking and nature in the Colorado Rockies, playing basketball, and leading or participating in Bible studies and discussions. He has maintained a close relationship with his sisters Lynn and Jan and their families, often traveling to visit one another.

He worked at a variety of companies, including Martin Marietta, Rational, Focus on The Family, and Compassion International. Throughout the years he has developed and maintained close personal friendships with his former coworkers, who now live all over the country. He has always been interested and passionate about computers, technology, and learning about what’s on the cutting edge of development. He has also played host to numerous Bible studies and discussions over the years, sharing his passion for knowledge and scripture with so many.

For many years, Roger struggled with chronic cluster headaches and migraines, causing him to be in pain on a daily basis. Despite his chronic pain he always lived his life to the fullest, hiking up and down mountains and playing sports with friends. With this new condition of ALS, there have been a lot of new changes. We are fundraising to help Roger get access to his own Eyegaze communication device, to maintain the equipment rentals for his hospital bed/breathing apparatus/medical tools, to help Roger have access to adequate care through home healthcare services, and to keep up with the everchanging circumstances of his condition.

Thank you for taking the time to read Rogers story, and we hope that you will feel compelled to help Roger and his loved ones enjoy the time they have left together,