A dry choice — Regional ALS Association Chapter sponsors walk for ALS awareness

The Evergreen Chapter of the ALS Association is hosting the sixth-annual Coeur d’Alene Walk to Defeat ALS at 10 a.m. Saturday, at Riverstone Park in Coeur d’Alene.

The walk aims “to honor and support those who are living with or have lost their lives to Lou Gehrig’s disease.”

In addition to awareness, the event also serves as a fundraiser to support community-based ALS patient service programs and research to find better ALS treatment options, or a cure to the disease.

The walk is a three-mile trek along the paved ADA accessible Centennial Trail bordering the Spokane River.

ALSA Development Director Jennifer Hanson said those interested in participating in the walk should sign up in advance, although there will be an opportunity for walk-up registrations from 9 to 10 a.m. on the day of the walk.

Hanson said the event is important for the fight against ALS globally and locally. “Finally, people are more aware of ALS and understanding the disease more,” Hanson said. “We hope now that people will take the extra step and support is locally as well, and bring that attention to [ALS] within our region.”

Hanson said that while there is no registration fee, participants should expect to make a donation to the ALSA during the event. According to the ALS Evergreen Chapter website, the walk has raised $34,096.67 in donations as of September 4 — a little less than half of the event total goal of $76,700.

Out of the funds raised so far, $7,095 of the raised funds have been contributed by Team Sprenger, a walk squad that honors the ALS afflicted President of Sprenger Construction Inc. Mike Sprenger.

“Team Sprenger ordered 250 walk t-shirts, and has 200 members signed up to participate,” Sprenger said.

This event follows the breaking of $100 million dollars donated to the ALSA as of August 29.

Hanson said the amount of support the ALSA has received over the past month due to the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is unbelievable, and had brought the ALSA Evergreen chapter to tears upon learning about the sudden surge of generosity.

“I never thought I would see the day when this would happen,” Hanson said.

With such large, unexpectedly acquired funding, it will be interesting to see how ALSA will fight against ALS on a national level, Hanson said.

“Those decisions are yet to be made, but we will be transparent and forthcoming and communicate well with the public, so I encourage people to go to the national site and our chapter website, and do your research,” Hanson said.

George Wood can be reached at [email protected]