ALS Walk for Life raises record $1.2 million for Les Turner ALS Foundation

On Sept. 21, approximately 7,000 people participated in the 13th annual Les Turner ALS Walk for Life in Chicago.

With nearly $1.2 million raised to date, this was a record-breaking event for the organization. It was the largest and most successful fundraising in the foundation's history.

As one of the largest gatherings of the ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) community, the ALS Walk for Life is a celebration of hope, courage and caring. The event was hosted by meteorologist Phil Schwarz of ABC 7 and Kathy Hart of The Mix 101.9FM and featured a 2-mile walk along Chicago's lakefront and through Soldier Field, as well as music, entertainment, food and children's activities.

Friends and families walked on teams honoring loved ones who have been affected by ALS. An unprecedented 265 teams participated; some were as large as 200 people and included individuals from the Chicago area and well beyond.

"The Walk for Life is an uplifting event for people affected by ALS and it allows them the chance to meet others who can relate to their experiences. There's a common bond as to why we all walk," said Wendy Abrams, executive director of the Les Turner ALS Foundation. "This year, the excitement surrounding the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge thrust ALS into the public eye, which helped invigorate the ALS community and enabled us to surpass our goal of raising $1 million."

During the opening ceremony, the Les Turner ALS Foundation staff members revealed the fundraising total, drawing a loud roar from the crowd. Also, Sue Randall, captain of the top fundraising team, Paul Launer's Iron Horse Brigade, delivered emotional remarks and motivated attendees to keep working toward a cure.

ALS Walk for Life sponsors included: ABC 7 Chicago, The MIX 101.9FM, Comcast, American Chartered Bank, Blick Art Materials, Corner Bakery, Cytokinetics, Hill-Rom, KIND, The Private Bank, Stabil, and US Foods.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a terminal neuromuscular disease that attacks a person's muscles, gradually robbing them of their ability to walk, speak, eat and breathe, yet usually keeping their mind intact. At any given time, approximately 35,000 people in the United States are living with ALS. Currently there is no cure.

The Les Turner ALS Foundation, founded in 1977, is Chicago's leader in research, patient care and education about ALS, serving more than 90 percent of people with ALS (PALS) in the area, offering help and hope when it's needed most. The Foundation's full spectrum patient service programs include in-home consultations, support groups, equipment loans and educational programs. The foundation offers hope for a future without ALS by supporting the Les Turner ALS Foundation Research and Patient Center at Northwestern Medicine, bringing together three research laboratories and a multidisciplinary patient center under one umbrella.

For more information, call 847-679-3311 or visit www.lesturnerals.org.