On Saturday, Miami will step up to the starting line and put two feet forward for a heartfelt cause.
More than 2,000 people have registered for the event in Coconut Grove. ”I never envisioned what we’d accomplish and end up doing,” said Kevin Packman, president of the ALS Recovery Fund. The Pinecrest resident started the nonprofit 18 years ago with his father who died from ALS in 2001. ALS, or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord resulting in muscle weakness and atrophy. It’s often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s Disease after the famous baseball player who died from it. ”Most charity runs are just runs,” said Adam Silverman, an ALS Recovery Fund board member who is organizing the event. A lot charity walks are just walks. It’s unusual that we’ve been able to capture both audiences of runners and walkers. We try to make it fun for everyone.” The race course follows South Bayshore Drive from Dinner Key down to Main Highway through the streets of Coconut Grove and back to the starting point. Awards, music and food will be waiting at the finish line. The top individual fundraiser will win a four-day, three-night trip for two adults to Sandals Resort, and the top fundraising team will win a dinner at The Capital Grille. Each individual raising a minimum of $100 will be entered into a drawing to win a three-day, two-night stay at The Reach Resort in Key West.
The annual event is planned by a team of ALS Recovery Fund volunteer board members who work year-round. The nonprofit runs solely on their volunteer hours. There are no salaries or overhead.