I'm Dying to Tell You
I'm Dying to Tell You
"Clayton Rakes" - Two Siblings’ Mission to Honor Their Dad and Fight ALS
What if two young siblings could inspire an entire community to rally against a devastating disease? Brady and Brooklyn Yozwiak from Hudson, Ohio, are doing just that with their initiative, Clayton Rakes. Their story begins with a deeply personal journey, motivated by their father Chris's battle with ALS. Sadly, Chris passed away in early 2024, but these incredible kids, aged just 11 and 8, have turned their grief into action by raising substantial funds for ALS research through their leaf-cleaning enterprise. Tune in to learn how their heartfelt mission is making waves, proving that age is no barrier to making a significant impact.
From neighborhood events featuring merchandise tables, food trucks, and entertainment, the Yozwiak siblings have mastered the art of community outreach, having raised nearly $330,000 so far. Join us as we hear Brady & Brooklyn talk about community support and how friends, family, and neighbors have rallied around their cause. Hear the powerful lessons they've learned about resilience, creativity, and leadership in the face of adversity. Their commitment to support ALS research is powerful, as they continue to build on their father's legacy and encourage others to join them in the fight against ALS. Thank you for sharing this precious chat with a friend and visiting their fundraising page directly supporting the ALS Therapy Development Institute. Hugs, Lorri
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Hello, I'm Lori, your host of. I'm Dying to Tell you, if you are listening in for the first time, welcome, welcome, welcome. And if you're coming back, welcome back. I'm so happy that you all are here, so happy that you all are here. As I'm thinking about introducing my guest, I'm reminded of a quote from John F Kennedy Children are the world's most valuable resource and its best hope for the future.
Lorri:Today's episode is a little different, because I am talking to two children who are doing really great things. I've been following them on social media for a while, so I'm really happy to finally catch up with them. I am talking to Brainy and Brooklyn Yoswick, from Hudson, ohio, and when they were seven and five Brandy was seven, brooklyn was five their father, chris, who was 45 at the time, was diagnosed with ALS in 2020. And when their father was diagnosed, they already knew that they wanted to do something to help find a cure for ALS. So they started what they are calling Clayton Ranks, a leaf cleanup enterprise, as a way to raise money for ALS research. But this isn't your. You know just one-off Saturday afternoon yard job that they were involved in. I'll let them tell you more about what it is and why they have chosen to do this.
Lorri:I will also add that, unfortunately to do this, I will also add that, unfortunately, their father passed away in January of this year 2024, from ALS. It's absolutely incredible what Brady and Brooklyn are doing to keep their father's spirit alive within them. Okay, I know I'm also going to be meeting Jennifer Jen Brainy and Brooklyn's mother as she helps get the kids set up for our chat over Zoom. Okay, let's get to meet you. Yeah, yeah, and you're just like up the road from us, yeah.
Jennifer:Where are you?
Lorri:Cincinnati.
Jennifer:Oh yeah, so we're not far. I mean well, we're kind of on the opposite ends of the state, but yeah I went to miami, so I spent a lot of time in cincinnati okay, my husband and I both went to miami oh my gosh, no way, you're a Miami merger, yep, yep.
Lorri:And then my oldest son went to Miami as well.
Jennifer:Oh, so, yeah, I know I always talk to these kiddos about what a great school it is.
Lorri:It is. It's like a hidden gem. I say yeah.
Jennifer:We live in Hudson. I don't know, have you ever been here before?
Lorri:No, you ever been here before? No, but is that where the famous david stanley lives, the co-host of the podcast? I lost my person.
Jennifer:Yes, it is, yeah, oh yes, it is the famous. That's so funny. He lives literally 10 minutes yeah, three minutes from us.
Lorri:Oh my gosh, I thought of him with this whole project because I know he's very, very passionate about his yarn and yeah I was like he raked with us one weekend this year.
Jennifer:Oh, perfect.
Lorri:Oh, great person and guest of this podcast, him and his fiance, allison, that has been on before as well. Good people, that's so funny.
Jennifer:The world is small, isn't it? It?
Lorri:is. It is, thank you. Okay, I see the kids are ready, brainy and Brooklyn. I see you guys are belling up to the mic, so all right.
Lorri:All right. Well, let's go, let's go. I'm so happy to meet you. I'm so happy to meet you. I have been following what you've been doing and it's really touched my heart, thank you. And it's really touched my heart, thank you. I don't know if you know it or not, but I've had als for 20 years. That's 20 years and I really appreciate what you guys have done. I'm gonna try not to get emotional. Like it really really does touch my heart. So, first of all, thank you.
Speaker 4:I have a blast doing this. Every time we do it like just for fun, I'll just like I'll like I remember, like I'll swing, like I'll swing my rake and like the leads will just go on to everyone. It's just like like it's, I just love doing it. It's just like so like it's, I just love doing it. It's just like so fun Like you. Like you really just like never expect things like that to like be like really fun.
Lorri:Yeah, yeah. Whoever thought of raking leaves to be fun? Well, I'm glad that you've developed your own technique. Let's kind of rewind so that everyone knows who you are and just about you know what you do for fun as a kid, and then we'll talk about what you're doing to change the world. So who wants to go first? You know, tell me a little bit about you, all right.
Speaker 4:Hello, my name is Brady Oswick. I am founder of Clayton Rakes. I just love caring for people. It's just like my number one thing.
Lorri:That's awesome. Do you play hockey? I play football, baseball and basketball oh, everything but hockey. Oh, okay, what is your favorite sport?
Speaker 4:Oh, I like all three, but I think I like all three equal.
Lorri:Oh, okay, maybe it will change your mind as you go through school. Yeah, and then how old are you? I'm 11., 11. So what grade does that make you fifth? Fifth grade okay. What's really fun about fifth grade?
Speaker 4:my teachers and all my friends in my class, oh, yeah, yeah, that's cool.
Lorri:Yeah, oh good, and I'm sure that one of your favorite things to do is to hang out with your little sister. Oh yeah, yeah, aw. Okay, brooklyn, you're up. Why don't you introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about you? My name is Brooklyn.
Brady:Yoslick, and I am co-founder of Glitter Weeks also, and I'm eight years old.
Lorri:Eight years old? Okay. What grade does that make you In third? In third grade All right, okay. What grade does that make you In third? In third grade? All right. Third and fifth grade. So what do you do when you're not involved in your nonprofit? What else do you like to do?
Brady:Yeah, brooklyn, I would probably say like dance or basketball.
Lorri:Okay, do you take dance lessons or yeah, yeah, and then you play basketball like for school.
Brady:No, I'm just like on a travel girls team for basketball.
Lorri:Okay, well, you must be really good then. Yeah, yeah, awesome, Okay, well, why don't you tell me about what is Clayton Rakes For? Someone tuning in and has no idea? Who wants to tell me what your nonprofit-profit is about?
Speaker 4:so basically, clayton rakes is. It's basically like you're not like like when you go outside and you like when you rake leaves outside, it's kind of just like one of the chores you have to do. Yeah, we kind of like like we do raking and we make it fun and we make it so that everyone can like be together and work together and make it like two times faster. Oh yeah, yeah, and I started clean rakes because my dad loved yard work. It was just like his number one priority and my dad loved raking in particular. He loved raking and it was just his thing and I loved it too. So I was like I was like nine years old when I had the idea to like start this for my dad and for everyone who has ALS, and we wanted to raise money for it and I'm really happy how it's going.
Lorri:Yeah, I wanted to say that I'm sorry that you've lost your dad. I know how it is to lose a parent and I also know how important it is to do things that make you feel connected to your parent that you've lost, and I am absolutely so sure that your dad is incredibly proud of what you you know what you guys are doing, so I think it's amazing and it's really really brave of you to do and to talk about it and to go and do what you're doing for other people that are living with the same thing that your dad had. No, it's really really good, thank you. Why do you think that it's so important to raise money and to raise awareness for ALS?
Speaker 4:I think why is? Because, like kind of like the ice bucket challenge, you want it to like spread. You want people like to donate and try and find the cures, what their goal is, and they need the money to do that which they don't completely have. So people donating to them, that's just how they have to do it, which is them donating money, and the Ice Bucket Challenge is one of the best things that they've ever done for ALS.
Lorri:You're right for awareness and for fundraising, and I can't believe that's been 10 years already. I mean that was 10 years ago, and so you are absolutely correct when you say that we just need the money to put to research. I mean, it's that simple, right. We need the money. Show me the money. We need the money to put it to research, and I know you guys are donating every penny that you make to alistdi, which is a drug discovery research lab dedicated to alist, so that's wonderful. Yes, yeah and congratulations. I noticed that you, that you were given an award at TDI summit. Yeah, tell me about that. That was pretty big news.
Speaker 4:Yeah, I like it was just so cool, just to like experience. It was just like super cool to like I gave a small speech to like 300 people. So cool because, like, while you're there you also learn more about it, how they're like making more like treatment samples too. When we were there, the dinner they kind of had like this thing to compare treatments from cancer to ALS and the fact that how, like, how much it's been underfunded and how much more cancer has been funded than ALS is crazy. Yeah, there's only been like 800 treatment samples for ALS. On the other side, cancer's had 100,000. So like it's for ALS, while on the other side cancers had a hundred thousand, so like it's just ALS.
Speaker 4:I wish, like the like, more people would get to know about ALS and help raise money for it and just really help us try and get closer and closer to that point.
Lorri:Yeah, yeah, you're right and you know it is sad, but it's about the money and so many more people have cancer than. Als, and so those drug companies. You know, when they are trying to decide what drug to go after, it's more profitable for them to go after a drug that more people are going to need right yeah, so, like cancer, more people have it, so instead they'll make more like they'll try and make more cancer treatments and ALS treatments.
Speaker 4:Yeah, so I guess they could make more money to do for cancer, but like now, als is starting to go up and up and up, and how many people are getting diagnosed per year now?
Lorri:so it's just like right you're right, it's not good and I and I'm so thankful that cancer is getting you know the attention and they need as well. I wanted to ask you tell me about your dad, tell me your favorite things about your dad he was just a straight-up goofball.
Speaker 4:I mean he, no, he like I would watch clips with him, clips of him with me when I was younger my sister. I remember when we were at a pool he like chucked me like halfway across the pool. It was just hilarious, it was just like really funny. I mean I remember me and him would play catch together. I mean it was just like all the things that I wanted, but I didn't get to get that much time with him yeah, yeah, well, I'm glad that you have some memories and it sounds like he was a funny guy.
Lorri:Yeah, yeah, you just lit up when I asked about him, so you can tell that you love him so much. Brooklyn, what about your dad? Tell me a little bit.
Brady:Well, I think that he was a goofball too, Because for me I would used to jump off the counter and he would like catch me and stuff and then, we would all laugh and then, yeah, oh, okay, okay, oh, I love that.
Lorri:So what do you think your dad would think about how you have continued to honor him in this way and continue to help people that need your help?
Speaker 4:I think he would really love what we're doing and I remember he like he would never discourage me about anything. He would just keep telling me to push forward with this. And he told me in his like goodbye letter to me um, he told me to keep on going and to never give up on things and you dreamed about doing. I think he would love what we're doing and even even if, like even if he was alive and healthy and he heard about this ALS thing, I'd be like and I had the same idea to do the same thing. I think it just be like he would also do it with me right by my side.
Lorri:Oh, yeah, yeah. Well, he's taught you a lot, a lot of good stuff. Yeah, that's great. So you have raised a lot of money. How much money have you raised?
Speaker 4:Almost $330,000.
Lorri:$330,000? Yeah, ranking least.
Speaker 4:That's amazing and I know that, oh yeah, In the past four weeks we've raised $108,000.
Lorri:$108,000 in four weeks. Oh my gosh, that's amazing. Congratulations.
Speaker 4:Yeah, it's crazy. I mean just breaking. That's like a normal life tour is raising $108,000 in four weeks.
Lorri:Yeah right, tell me how you did that. I was seeing that you were getting people that wanted to jump in, grab their rig and help you, and I think you even did. I see that you were like transporting people into different neighborhoods oh yeah, the trolley that was awesome.
Speaker 4:Yeah, I saw that trolley that you were taking everyone from neighborhood neighborhood yeah, at the event we will have like two tables, and one will be like a snack table and one would be like a merchandise table. So this year we had this hoodie and a gray one, we also had hats and oh yeah, and we also had drawstring bags just kind of fun, and food trucks, like oh yeah, and djs and like whatever yeah, and dancing, like all the things oh my gosh and like, like.
Speaker 4:Really, the only way we could really do this was was my friends and everyone coming to join me, because if they weren't there coming to support this, I don't even know well, yeah, I mean, you're only, you know, two kids and a and a strong supportive mom.
Lorri:There's only so many leaves you can make. So I love, I love it.
Speaker 4:So you go to a neighborhood and you kind of camp out in that neighborhood and then tackle all the yards that are there yeah, um, we, we basically fall like when, like when, like those leaf trucks come, like those leaf trucks when they like come and pick up the leaves from the side of the road. So we basically follow that schedule per neighborhood. How does it work? So we basically go to one street and we'll set up like cafe and our merchant and the yacht shop merchandise table at one house, because it's like they'll basically just be our, like our base for like the street that we're doing. Okay, so we'll get some up there and then people will show up and help us rake for like an hour and then, um, we'll just like have like a ton of fun afterwards, or like we'll play football, we'll play baseball, we'll just do all those cool things. Oh, I love it.
Lorri:Yeah, well, I like that it's. It's really not about the leaves, is it? It's about the community and the people that are showing up for you. Right, yeah, yeah, it means everything. So what do you have to say to other kids that feel like they might not be able to make a difference? Like, what do you have to say to them about how kids can make a difference?
Speaker 4:about how kids can make a difference. I would say, if you have like well, like, if you have like a really good idea, or like you really want to do something, I would focus on that one thing. Cleaning Rakes. When I thought of the idea, I was like, oh yes, this is my idea and I would just pursue your dreams. I'd want you to do the things that you do.
Speaker 4:And if kids are like, oh no, I can't do this or I can't do that, don't ever say that about yourself. You always want to say positive things about yourself. Because that's what I did with myself and I just like it was just my primary focus to ask my mom about it. And I just like it was just my primary focus to ask my mom about it, and I was so happy that she came in for me and just like helped me do all this and it was just amazing. Yeah, yeah, so I would. I would just say, if you always want to do something, that's good, or you want to pursue your dreams, I would 100 do that and you never give up on it.
Lorri:that's perfect advice. So when I was diagnosed with als, my two sons were 11 and 13, and that was 20 years ago, and they started getting out there and doing little things like having selling root beer floats in front of a grocery store or, you know, doing something with their hockey team or with their theater. And 20 years later, they've raised over a million dollars. So every dollar and oh, you guys are on your way, yeah, yeah, your eyes are really big, but I'm telling you, you're on your way. Every dollar adds up, and they did, you know stuff like you guys are doing An event here, an event there. Um, you know, if you continue to have it in your heart and it's still fun, and you continue to do it, you're gonna get there too. So, yeah, yeah, we're gonna keep doing it till it's secure.
Speaker 4:So don't ever think we're stopping.
Lorri:Oh okay, I love it. Um, and I noticed now there is a dedicated national day of ranking on november 2nd, which is your dad's birthday.
Speaker 4:So tell me a little bit about that so, um, we're asking everyone in hudson and across the country to grab a rate or any tool. They have to go out in their yard, do the work our dad loved to do and do it for him, for everyone suffering from als and for families who are still fighting. We won't stop raising money for als research until there's a cure. We always hoped it would come in time for our dad, but now we hope it.
Speaker 4:Hope it comes in time for someone else's parents, sibling or friend yeah, oh, thank you, and it will so like and like and because it's called the national day of raking, we encourage people to go outside and rake and rake out ALS.
Lorri:Yeah, I love it. Yeah, so you guys can't be everywhere, even with your trolley, so you're encouraging anyone else to kind of do the same thing in their neighborhood, right? Maybe not, dj, and all that stuff that you guys are doing. You guys are taking ranking to the next level, but still people can go and they can organize something in their neighborhood and say, hey, let's rank together and donate. Um, you know, go around and see who needs help ranking and donate any money earned to. When they donate it to Clayton Ranks or to ALS TDI, like, how do you want to see that happen?
Speaker 4:so, like, through our like website. It goes completely to ALS TDI, and we chose ALS TDI because they're the only organization that focus fully on ALS and like nothing else just ALS yeah right, I love it.
Lorri:Yeah, great people, great team there.
Lorri:I know you guys got a tour in the lab when you were there in Boston and I've been able to do that as well, so I get it okay. Well, to my listeners, I will put a link in the show notes that you can support Clayton Rakes, whether you are organizing your own ranking event or if you just want to support um in any way. That would be great, and you can find the link in my show notes on Facebook and the website, both at I'm Dying to Tell you podcast. Okay, brooklyn, is there anything that you wanted to add? Do you have a specific job, brooklyn, at the ranking event? Yes, what kind of things do you do when you all get together?
Brady:Well, we just recently added face paint, so that's one of the things.
Lorri:Oh, okay, and do you actually do the face painting? Yes, oh nice.
Brady:Oh, that's cool okay we paint like trees or like leaves or oh, that's great. And cleaning cafe we also. I also work at.
Lorri:I'm sorry. What was that um cleaning cafe? Oh, your cafe, clayton's cafe. Yeah, clayton's Cafe. Yeah, clayton's Cafe. All right, and what kind of things are you selling in your cafe?
Brady:I'm usually selling like donuts snacks.
Lorri:Coffee, anything to happy? Oh, I love it. Oh hey, brooklyn, do you guys have a ultimate goal with your Clayton Rakes organization? Do you have a certain goal that you would love to hit? I know that you were trying to reach 100,000 this fall, which you did, yeah.
Brady:I would probably say I would want to get to like 9 million, 9 million 9 million.
Lorri:That would be amazing. Hey, I like it. Shoot for the stars. You can really make a difference with ALS research with 9 million. Okay, Well, I'm so happy that we were able to chat and I can help you get the word out there so you can get some donations in and get to your $9 million goal oh yeah, $9 million goal.
Lorri:Yeah, I like it. I like it, Okay, because my podcast is called I'm Dying to Tell you. At the end of the episode, I always ask what are you dying to tell me and I'll let each of you go. So who wants to go first? Brainy, what are you dying to tell us?
Speaker 4:I'm dying to tell you what what Clayton Raiggs means to me. Okay, so, um, the reason why I'm dying to tell you about it is because the first weekend we did ean regs was we raised $7,500 on our first weekend, and that's when we realized this could be our way of fighting back. Over two seasons, we've raised $225,000 for ALS research, and that was only in two seasons. We just finished up our third one. Every weekend, we rake yards, and it's not about the money, it's about doing something that reminds us of our dad, and now, after this season, we've raised $330,000.
Lorri:I'm gonna cry. I'm so proud. I am so proud of you guys. That's amazing. Yeah, that's so good. Yeah, okay, brooklyn, what are you dying to tell us?
Brady:I'm dying to tell you about how we started the claim to rape. Okay, we started the claim to rape because we didn't know how to help our dad when he was diagnosed with ALS. He loved being outside and working in the yard and it was something we did together, so we thought why not rake our neighbor's yards and ask for donations?
Lorri:yeah, why not? Oh, I love that. There's nothing better than doing something that reminds you of someone that you've lost. So, um, I'm so, so happy that you guys have found a way to keep your dad in your heart. So, again, I really appreciate both of you and all that you have done and all that you're going to continue to do. Okay, before we say goodbye, for now, brooklyn Brainy, jen, anything else, anything else for me.
Jennifer:Well, you are simply amazing, Lori, like a total inspiration to this entire community and just the general human race. I mean, you are a beautiful human being.
Jennifer:I have so enjoyed following you, and I am just so inspired by you, but also hopeful, that you are someone living with ALS for 20 plus years, fighting back every single day, and you know to understand more about what your kiddos have done as well as. It's absolutely incredible, and so I'm so grateful, as I'm sure you are like you're so very blessed to. This has taken it slow for you. I'm so happy for you.
Lorri:Yeah.
Jennifer:I'm just so thankful people like you that are out there every day trying to fight against it, and we're going to continue to do the same thank you, jen.
Lorri:That's very sweet, and thank you for staying in this fight as well. Nice to meet you thank you bye as well.
Jennifer:Nice to meet you.
Lorri:All right, thank you. Thank you, okayiny, brooklyn and Mom Jen Yonswick. Thank you all for you know, like I said, staying in this fight Like after you lose someone to ALS then you have a choice. You know you have a choice whether you are in this ALS community or not, and so to choose to stay in it and fight for all of us that are still living with ALS is huge, and I want you all to know that. We all see that and we see the sacrifice, we see your courage in showing up for us when you really don't have to. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you all again.
Lorri:Okay, two little kids, now 11 and 8, who have raised $330,000 ranking yards, ranking out ALS, you know to raise money directly to ALS TDI. It's incredible and I'm going to hang up and I'm going to, and when I'm done here, I'm going to call my two sons, paul and Christian, also known as Kids for Cure. They raised over a million dollars and they quit counting after that, but I'm going to let them know that they need to keep an eye on Clayton, that they need to help cheer on Brainy and Brooklyn as they get to their new goal. As Brooklyn says, nine million dollars and you know what I think they just might get there. Yeah, and I'll have them back on when they reach that goal. I'm just gonna be totally optimistic here that I will be around and I will interview them again on the podcast. So I'm looking forward to that. Pretty much everywhere on social media on Facebook, twitter, instagram, linkedin and even TikTok all at I'm Dying to Tell you podcast. You can go wherever you're listening and subscribe to the podcast and that way you'll get notified whenever I put out a new episode.
Lorri:I'd love to have you stay here in our special community and, if you like this episode, if you give it a rating and a review on Apple or Spotify wherever you're listening, or Spotify wherever you're listening, that really helps bring other people to it. And you know, maybe there's a family out there that is in the ALS community, or even cancer or anything else, and they have young children and they're wondering what can they do to help support their family. And what a great example this would be. So if it's in your heart to review, perfect. If it's in your heart to share with your friends and your family, that would be amazing. Okay, thank you again for being here. Until next time. Know you are loved and not alone. Thanks for listening.