Photo courtesy of Jenna Kampfschulte.
It’s been 10 years since Lake Highlands’ Julian Kampfschulte passed away from adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) in 2016. Last evening, Aug. 24, school friends, family and community members gathered at Vector Brewing to commemorate what would have been Julian’s senior year of high school.
A rainbow-themed event filled the brewery with balloon arches, popcorn and cupcakes as guests wearing red “Love You More” shirts entered the space. The phrase “Love You More” was born during Julian’s final moments.
“‘Love You More’ is because when [Julian] lost his hearing, we started signing. So, if we signed, ‘I love you,’ he always said, ‘More,’ because that’s just the kind of kid he was,” Jenna Kampfschulte, Julian’s mom, said.
For the past 10 years, the Kampfschulte family has kept their son’s legacy alive through their annual “Workout of the Day” event, which takes place every year near Julian’s birthday. This year’s event included an hourlong workout at The Neighborhood Gym in the Lakeridge Village Shopping Center.
But this year, the Kampfschulte family joined the Hall family to expand the celebration beyond Julian’s birthday and honor the classmates who stood by him during his final year of elementary school.
The “Love You More” Awards were created this year to recognize Julian’s former classmates, who grew up alongside him and supported him as his disease progressed. Donations raised through the event will help fund the “Love You More” scholarships, which will be awarded in the spring.
“[Julian] stayed in school as long as we could keep him in school,” Kampfschulte said. “[His classmates] walked him around when he couldn’t see. They were so good to him.”
For the Hall family, the awards hold an extra special meaning to them — their two-and-a-half-year-old son, William, has the same disease Julian had.
William, his parents said, is “just like any other toddler.” He loves Spider-Man and cars, is busy and funny, and is “full of life.”
The Hall said being part of Julian’s celebration is also a reminder of how his legacy continues to impact families affected by ALD.
“I hope that people can celebrate a life that was cut way too short, but can look back on Julian’s legacy with happy memories,” Tyler Hall, William’s father, said. “Tonight is about him and remembering him.”
The Hall’s established the Will to Cure ALD Foundation in late 2024 to help accelerate therapeutic research on ALD.
Since then, the Hall family has raised more than $3 million and partnered with leading research institutions to fund high-potential, translational science aimed at finding a cure for the disease.
Donations collected for the “Love You More” Awards will go toward the scholarships, while any money raised beyond that goal will be directed to Will to Cure ALD.
The Halls credited the Lake Highlands community with helping advocate for legislation that allowed ALD to be included in Texas’ newborn screening program. Because of that screening, families like the Halls can learn that their children have ALD earlier and begin seeking treatment and support.
“The people you see in this room 10 years ago made a decision to try and make an impact by passing a law that allowed us to know about our son,” Hall said. “ Every month, a new kid is caught, and it’s a forever legacy that [Julian] will leave.”
The Halls hope that legacy is something they can carry forward.
“We just want to capitalize on the time that we’ve been given to make an impact ourselves,” Hall said.
