Walk to Defeat ALS® Marks 25 Years of Honoring and Supporting People Living with ALS

ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- For 25 years, the Walk to Defeat ALS^® has brought together individuals and families impacted by ALS, offering hope, solidarity, and critical support. More than just a fundraiser, this nationwide movement brings together thousands each year to stand beside those battling ALS, honor loved ones, and drive progress toward better treatments and a cure.

With nearly 50,000 participants and volunteers in 80 Walks across the country, the Walk to Defeat ALS^® is the world's largest event dedicated to supporting people living with ALS and their families. Through their dedication, the ALS Association has been able to dramatically accelerate the fight against ALS by funding the development of new ALS treatments, by discovering new ALS genes, by creating new global research collaborations, and by significantly expanding access to ALS care.

For many, the Walk to Defeat ALS is deeply personal. Families share stories of resilience, caregivers rally for greater access to care, and individuals living with ALS remind the world that their voices and fight matter.

National sponsors supporting the 2025 Walk the Defeat ALS^® include Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, NuMotion, and Permobil.

"For 25 years, the Walk to Defeat ALS has brought the ALS community together," said Calaneet Balas, president and CEO of the ALS Association. "Each Walk brings us closer to making ALS livable and finding a cure. Thanks to the dedication of our participants, volunteers and our national sponsors, we've been able to transform hope into action for people living with ALS and their families."

The upcoming Walk to Defeat ALS^® events are:

• Walk to Defeat ALS Orlando on March 15 in Orlando, FL
• Walk to Defeat ALS Sarasota on April 12 in Sarasota, FL
• Walk to Defeat ALS Jacksonville on April 12 in Jacksonville, FL
• Walk to Defeat ALS Tri-Cities on April 26 in Kingsport, TN
• Walk to Defeat ALS Greater Tampa Bay on April 26 in Safety Harbor, FL
• Walk to Defeat ALS Miami on May 3 in North Miami, FL
• Walk to Defeat ALS Eastern Iowa on May 4 in Coralville, Iowa
• Walk to Defeat ALS Chippewa Valley on May 31 in Chippewa Falls, WI
• Walk to Defeat ALS Erie on June 28 in Erie, PA
• Walk to Defeat ALS Alaska on June 28 in Wasilla, AK
• Walk to Defeat ALS St. Louis on June 28 in St. Louis, MO
• Walk to Defeat ALS Nebraska on June 28 in Papillion, NE

Funds raised through Walk to Defeat ALS^® events help advance development of new ALS treatments, the discovery of new ALS genes, and expand access to care and support. Registered participants who raise $100 or more will receive a commemorative t-shirt.

Learn more or find a Walk to Defeat ALS^® event in your area by visiting WalkToDefeatALS.org.

About the ALS Association
The ALS Association is the largest philanthropic funder of ALS research in the world. The Association funds global research collaborations, assists people with ALS and their families through its nationwide network of care and certified clinical care centers, and advocates for better public policies for people with ALS. The ALS Association is working to make ALS a livable disease while urgently searching for new treatments and a cure. For more information about the ALS Association, visit our website at als.org.

About ALS
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Over the course of the disease, people lose the ability to move, to speak, and eventually, to breathe. The disease is always fatal, usually within five years of diagnosis. Few treatment options exist, resulting in a high unmet need for new therapies to address functional deficits and disease progression.

SOURCE The ALS Association