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Date: 8/23/2022
NORTHAMPTON – The annual Western Massachusetts Walk to Defeat ALS will take place at Look Memorial Park on Sept. 11 to raise money and awareness for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the fatal neurodegenerative disease in which a person’s brain loses connection with the muscles.
When this connection is lost, people with the disease gradually begin to lose their ability to eat, sleep, walk, talk and eventually breathe.
The event, which is spearheaded by the Massachusetts chapter of the ALS Association, aims to raise funds for local families who are affected by ALS in some capacity, according to Tara Gottlieb, the manager of community engagement and events for the ALS Association.
More specifically, Gottlieb said the money goes toward advocacy and research for a cure to ALS, as well as the support services the ALS Association offers, like their care services department. “The goal of the ALS Association is to make ALS a livable disease by 2030,” said Gottlieb. “That’s pretty much why we have these events.”
According to Gottlieb, people can also expect vendors, artisans, donated food from local restaurants and grocery stores during the day of the walk.
Gottlieb said her father was diagnosed with ALS in May 2021 and passed away six months later from the disease. Gottlieb participated in the 2021 walk while he was sick and spoke during the opening ceremony about why she participated. When her father passed in November, Gottlieb reached out to the ALS Association for some guidance after and eventually began working with them in February. She now spearheads the Western Massachusetts walk and the Boston one, the latter of which occurring Oct. 16 at UMass Boston.
For the Western Mass. walk, Gottlieb said the goal is to raise $100,000, and according to the ALS Association website, the organization has so far raised a little over $30,000.
“I think our association is doing everything possible to help folks living with ALS,” said Gottlieb. “The advocacy program is incredible. Our territory is all of Massachusetts, so anyone who has ALS and registers with the association, we go to their homes and help them out with equipment. We offer support groups, and we can help them out with anything they need.”
Gottlieb said she expects a 300-person turnout, as well as some virtual walkers. There are also others who have created walking teams just raise money. People can visit the ALS Association website to donate money and/or create/join a team. If someone raises $90, they will get a shirt at the walk.
“The reason it’s $90 is because every 90 minutes, someone is diagnosed with ALS and every 90 minutes someone passes away from ALS,” said Gottlieb, who added that people do not have to raise money to register or walk. “A lot of it is about spreading awareness because a lot of people don’t know about ALS since it’s a rare disease.”
People can learn more about the event and ALS in general on the ALS Association website, https://www.als.org.
People can also contact Gottlieb with any additional questions at tara.gottlieb@als.org.