Chesapeake Bay ‘Walk to Defeat ALS’ announced for this October
CENTREVILLE, Md. – The ALS Association has announced the first ever Walk to Defeat ALS in the Chesapeake Bay area set to take place this October in Centreville, Maryland.
Spearheaded by Pam Edwards, a person living with ALS, and her Daughter Meredith Kulbacki, the Walk to Defeat ALS® will be the first in the Chesapeake Bay area.
The event will take place Saturday, Oct. 22, 2023 at Route 18 Park, located at 1901 4H Park Road in Centreville, Maryland. The walk will host those living with ALS, family members, friends, caregivers, and others impacted by ALS to join the fight to find a cure.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, often called Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive motor neuron disease, which gradually robs people of their ability to walk, talk, swallow and eventually breathe. ALS has no known cause or cure, but this walk will rally everyone together to do whatever it takes to change that.
The ALS communities from around the Chesapeake Bay area will come together to honor a loved one with the disease, to remember those who have passed, and to raise awareness and critical fundraising support for the fight against ALS.
“We are excited to host our first ever Walk to Defeat ALS in the Chesapeake Bay area”, said Paul Jeter, Territory Executive, The ALS Association. “Every 90 minutes, someone is diagnosed with ALS. We remain committed to doing whatever it takes to end ALS. By participating in the Walk, this community is coming together to help change the future for those living with ALS.”
ALS Association Community Engagement Manager Tara Huang tells us how the debilitating disease, which weakens muscles and impacts physical function, is much more common than most people think.
“There’s about 30,000 Americans living with ALS, and because of the short lifespan that statistic can be a little deceiving,” Huang said. “It’s more about one in three hundred Americans will get ALS, even though many still consider it to be a rare disease.”
With only two to five years to live, people living with ALS 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 global research, nationwide advocacy, and local care services.
Funds raised from the Walk fuel ALS-specific research projects and provide critical care services to those living with ALS.
Participants can register at walktodefeatALS.org, or by phone at (202) 984-1632 Supporters who register or make donations online are not required to attend the Walk
