The ALS Network announces the 2nd annual Big Island Walk & Roll to Cure ALS (formerly the Big Island Walk to Defeat ALS) on Sunday, Aug. 18, at Old Kona Airport in Kailua-Kona.
This annual event brings energy and an outpouring of support for those affected by ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Lou Gehrig’s disease).
Participants are invited to join other members of the community in honor or in memory of those impacted by ALS for a family-friendly morning of celebration, exercise, education, awareness, music, food and kids’ fun.
“These Walk & Roll to Cure ALS events are vitally important as they raise awareness about ALS and foster support from our communities and other health care providers,” said Rodney Morrell, who has been living with ALS since 2022 and is lead volunteer for the Big Island Walk & Roll.
Since its inception in 2023, the Big Island Walk & Roll to Cure ALS has been a yearly opportunity for the ALS community to connect and fuel the search for effective treatments and cures for ALS.
Proceeds from the Big Island walk will be used to support Hawaii programs and services for the ALS community.
Participants must check-in upon arrival, and start time schedule is as follows: 7:15 a.m. (volunteer registration; 8:30 a.m. (registration); 9:30 a.m. (program begins); 10 a.m. (walk begins)
Online registration closes at 8 p.m. Saturday, but supporters are welcome to register the morning of the event beginning at 8:30 a.m.
This special community event is open to the public and is designed to appeal to every level of walker and supporter of the ALS Network.
ALS is a fatal, neurodegenerative illness that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. People with ALS lose the ability to move, speak, swallow, and, eventually, to breathe — all while their minds and senses usually continue to function.
People who have served in any branch of the military are diagnosed with ALS nearly twice as often as the general population. Currently, there are no known cures for ALS and only modestly effective treatments.
“To borrow a quote from Lou Gehrig, I truly am lucky and blessed to have many people in my life who are caring and compassionate,” Morrell said. “One such group is the ALS Network. They have been by my side since day one, ensuring that my needs are met through the insidious advancement of ALS.”
Sponsors for the walk include: Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, Goodfellow Bros., Hawaiian Rehabilitation Services, and Kaiser Permanente.
For more information, to register for the event, or to make a gift in support, please visit alswalkbigisland.org.
For questions, please contact AnnMarie Ingham at BIwalk@alsnetwork.org or (808) 480-9689.