Walk to Defeat ALS® at Phillippi Estate Park in Sarasota
On Saturday, March 4, 2017, more than 500 people will gather at Phillippi Estate Park in Sarasota to join the fight to find a cure for a deadly illness. ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, progressively paralyzes its victims, attacking nerve cells and pathways in the brain or spinal cord, taking away their ability to walk, talk, eat and eventually breathe. ALS has no known cause or cure, but the Sarasota community is rallying together to change that.
This year, is Sarasota Memorial Hospital joining the Walk to Defeat ALS® as both a sponsor and a walk team in honor of one of their colleagues. The SMH team is walking in honor of Debbie Kurtz, who was recently diagnosed with ALS. The team has already raised over $3,000 and is still going strong! “That kind of community support truly represents what the Walk to Defeat ALS® is all about,” said Kim Hanna, President and CEO of The ALS Association Florida Chapter. “These events give hope and help to people affected by ALS and show them they are not alone in their fight.”
Wheelchair-bound patients along with their families and friends will make a 2-mile trek in The Walk to Defeat ALS®, hoping their steps will make a difference for ALS patients living in Florida. Many who walk have a loved one who is still fighting the deadly disease. Others walk in memory of a loved one who has lost the battle. Many people, without any personal connection, still walk out of a simple concern for those who are suffering with Lou Gehrig’s disease.
With only two to five years to live, these patients have an urgent need, and the community is stepping in to fill it by walking for those who can’t. The Walk to Defeat ALS® is The ALS Association’s signature event in which all funds directly support cutting-edge research, programs and patient care. Last year, almost 8,000 people walked in events throughout the state of Florida, raising more than $1.3 million.
All interested walkers should call 888-257-1717 (ext. 132), or register online at www.WalkToDefeatALS.org.
The Quick Facts
What: Sarasota Walk to Defeat ALS
When: Saturday, March 4, 2017
9:00 am – Registration | 10:00 am – Walk Begins
Where: Phillippi Estate Park
5500 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL
Why: To raise funds and awareness for ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, a progressive, fatal neurodegenerative disease. There is no known cause or cure for ALS. All proceeds raised will support patient care and comfort, as well as research for treatments and a cure.
Other: The 2017 Sarasota Walk To Defeat ALS® would not be possible without the ongoing generosity and support from our statewide sponsor this year, Vitas Healthcare.
For more information: Go to www.WalktoDefeatALS.org, or call 888-257-1717 ext. 132, or email Darcy Klempner at [email protected].
About The ALS Association Florida Chapter
The ALS Association Florida Chapter, www.ALSAFL.org, offers care to people living with ALS in Florida and funds research to find the cause and cure for Lou Gehrig’s Disease. We are part of a nationwide network of local ALS Association chapters with the same vision – a world without ALS. Through care, advocacy, research, education and support, we work to empower those with ALS to live fuller lives. Every year, The ALS Association invests millions of dollars in research conducted by the best and brightest scientists in the world. As the only national not-for-profit health organization dedicated solely to the fight against ALS, we give help and hope to those facing a devastating disease.
The ALS Association Florida Chapter is dedicated to finding a cure for ALS while empowering the lives of those living with the disease through care, advocacy, research, education and support. For more information about the ALS Association Florida Chapter, go to www.ALSAFL.org
