Do you know what “SpongeBob SquarePants” creator Stephen Hillenburg, NBA Hall of Fame basketball player George Yardley, and theoretical physicist, cosmologist and author Stephen Hawking, have in common? They all suffered from a progressive neurodegenerative disease called ALS or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. ALS affects the motor neurons that govern a person’s voluntary movements and muscle control. As these neurons die due to the disease, one’s ability to walk, talk, eat, and breathe gets affected, which in the long run proves fatal.

The ALS Association, a nonprofit organization whose mission is “To discover treatments and a cure for ALS, and to serve, advocate for, and empower people affected by ALS to live their lives to the fullest,” is at the forefront of ALS research and comprehensive patient care. On October 14, the group will be holding Walk to Defeat ALS, a fundraising and awareness activity to support people living with ALS and their families, at Charlestown, West Virginia.

Fundraising through the Walk drives bold and urgent innovation as we march together toward a treatment and ultimately a cure for ALS.

The Local Connection

Your participation in the Walk to Defeat ALS has a direct impact on people living with ALS and their families at the local level. Through education, support groups, access to care and advocacy, we are working to defeat ALS and provide hope to people living with ALS and their families.

Each step matters. Your presence counts. Register here now and show your support for ALS warriors.