Community to walk this Saturday in honor of Michelle

[October 14, 2008]  The "Walk to Defeat ALS" is the ALS Association's national signature event. Each year, over 100,000 people, including ALS patients, families, friends and corporate leaders, join together to raise funds in support of the association's cutting-edge research and community-based patient services programs. Now in its ninth year, approximately 150 walks will be held around the country.

The Springfield walk will be on Saturday in Washington Park. Registration is at 9 a.m., with the walk starting at 10 a.m. (Details) If you want to join the walk, there will be a gathering at the Logan Lanes bowling alley parking lot at 8:15 a.m.

A team of ALS walkers from the Lincoln Kroger store will be going to the event, as well as several other teams formed by Michelle Conrady-Brown's family and friends.

In 2007, the St. Louis Regional Chapter's walks raised over $342,000, proving to be their most successful season to date. This year their goal is to raise $390,000 for continued programs and services on a local and national level.

Every 90 minutes a person in this country is diagnosed with ALS, and every 90 minutes another person will lose his or her life from the disease. The Walk to Defeat ALS offers an exciting, empowering opportunity for patients, family members, friends, companies and organizations across the country to raise significant funds to support comprehensive patient service programs and cutting-edge research.

1. The life expectancy of an ALS patient averages two to five years from the time of diagnosis.

2. Every 90 minutes someone in this country is diagnosed with ALS, and every 90 minutes another person will lose their battle against this disease.

3. ALS can strike anyone. Presently there is no known cause of the disease. Someone you know or love may die from ALS unless a cure is found.

4. Caring for a loved one with ALS costs on average $200,000 each year.

More information about ALS and how to join the walk can be found at www.alsa-stl.org.

If you can't make the walk but would like to donate to ALS, the Lincoln Krogers is accepting donations on behalf of Michelle and her family.

[Text from file received from ALS Association, St. Louis Regional Chapter; LDN staff]