Walk to Help Find a Cure to Lou Gehrig's Disease

This fall, nearly 2000 men, women and children from around Connecticut will gather in three locations for the Walk to Defeat ALS to help local families living with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, and to support research for a cure.

While most Americans have heard of Lou Gehrig’s Disease, most don’t know that in the 70-plus years since the baseball legend succumbed to the disease in 1941 at the age of 37, more than 7 million people have been diagnosed with ALS.  What they also may not realize about this poorly understood disease:

• ALS destroys nerve cells and pathways in the brain and spinal cord, causing a progressive loss of mobility, speech, swallowing and breathing, and the average life expectancy after diagnosis is two to five years. 
• There is currently no cure, nor any treatment that halts or reverses ALS. 
• Military veterans, particularly those deployed during the Gulf War, are approximately twice as likely to develop ALS. 
• The cost of care for someone with ALS can run as high as $250,000 for one year, bringing financial devastation and ruin to many families.

Unquestionably the backbone of the ALS Association Connecticut Chapter’s fundraising efforts, the Walk to Defeat ALS enables the Chapter to bring tangible assistance and better quality of life to those struggling to cope with the physical, emotional and financial impact of ALS.  The Walk is much more than a fundraising event, however—it is a time of solidarity and hope for all those who participate.  But something unique inspires each person who walks:

Team Sturge is dedicated to the memory of Paul Sturgess, a Branford native whose tragically short life touched many within his community.  Those who knew and loved Paul will rally together at the New Haven Walk to Defeat ALS on September 16th to remember this loyal friend, talented coach, successful businessman, dedicated volunteer, and steadfast family man.

The Irvine family of Preston will walk in New Britain on September 29th to celebrate the courage of a young husband and father.  His family and friends will gather around him to show their support in a tangible way for his fight against ALS and the fight to find a cure for ALS.

The Curran family will walk in Westport on October 20th to honor the memory of Ruth Curran, a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, a gifted businesswoman, and a stalwart supporter of her community whose passing earlier this year left a hole in the lives of all who knew her.

We hope that you will be inspired to participate in one of our three Walk to Defeat ALS events by the grace and courage of these three special people, the countless other men and women throughout Connecticut who are now battling ALS, and the many we have lost to this cruel and relentless disease. Theirs is a compelling legacy—to create a world without ALS.

To register for a Walk to Defeat ALS event near you, visit walkct.alsa.org or call 203-874-5050.