Lou Gehrig

The ALS Association Golden West Chapter is hosting its 10th annual Inland Empire Walk to Defeat ALS® on Sunday, Oct. 6, at The University of La Verne. Celebrating a decade in the La Verne community, the walk will raise funds and awareness for families living with ALS. This year’s Walk will be another great event, so please make plans to be a part of it!

The Walk begins through downtown La Verne and continues through the beautiful University of La Verne Campus. The two-mile walk is open to the public and all funds raised support the mission-critical priorities of The ALS Association Golden West Chapter in Care Services, Public Policy, and Research. This year, the goal is to raise $100,000 for the Inland Empire Walk to continue supporting the ALS community.

“The Walk to Defeat ALS has given me the opportunity to fight back and help my community raise awareness of this not well publicized disease,” said Julianne Angel, a resident of Rancho Cucamonga. “We have a voice and the Walk to Defeat ALS is helping us to be heard, while having a great time and meeting fantastic people.” Julianne was diagnosed with ALS in 2008 and has participated in the Inland Empire Walk for several years. Last year, her team “Jules Angels” raised $14,000, making it the highest fundraising group for the fourth consecutive year.

The Inland Empire Walk has consistently experienced growth, with a record-breaking year in 2012. Over 1,100 people came out to show their support on walk day. Of those in attendance, 25 participants have ALS. Together this community blew the $60,000 Walk goal right out of the water, raising over $90,000 to support our mission.

About ALS

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a fatal, neurodegenerative disease that attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. People with ALS lose their ability to move, speak, swallow and eventually the ability to breathe, while all five senses continue to function normally. ALS can strike anyone, at any time. It knows no racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic boundaries, though military veterans are at twice the risk of the general population. The average life expectancy of a person with ALS is two to five years from diagnosis. At this time, there is no known cause and no known cure. In the later stages of the disease, the annual costs for home care, coupled with the cost of necessary equipment can exceed $200,000 per year.

About The ALS Association

The mission of The ALS Association is to lead the fight to treat and cure ALS through global research and nationwide advocacy while also empowering people with Lou Gehrig’s disease and their families to live fuller lives by providing them with compassionate care and support. We are a member of the National Health Council and the only National organization solely dedicated to fighting ALS on all fronts while directly serving the ALS community. By leading the way in global research, providing assistance for people with ALS through a nationwide network of chapters, coordinating multidisciplinary care through certified clinical care centers, and fostering government partnerships, The ALS Association builds hope and enhances quality of life while aggressively searching for new treatments and a cure. The Golden West Chapter serves people with ALS and their families in 31 counties in California.

For more information or to register for the Walk please go to www.walktodefeatals.org. You can also call (818) 865 -8067 or contact Jamie Aronson, Special Events Coordinator at jaronson@alsagoldenwest.org.

Like us on Facebook. Subscribe to our FREE Weekly Update by going to the FREE Subscribe button!