Local Team Participates in the Long Island Walk to Defeat ALS

This Sunday the ALS Association Greater New York Chapter will host the 13th Annual Long Island Walk to Defeat ALS – the largest ALS Walk in the country.  On Sunday, September 22nd, over 190 teams and thousands of Walkers will gather at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow to raise funds and awareness in the fight against Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

Several local teams are participating, including Charlie’s Angels of Patchogue.  Captained by Jamie Lusky, the team has a goal to raise $8,000 and is now walking in their 10th Walk.  They walk in memory of Charlie Lusky, who was diagnosed with ALS in March 2003 and lost his battle the following winter.

Original Co-Host of ABC’s The View Debbie Matenopoulous, who lost her father to ALS, will serve as Grand Marshall of the Long Island Walk and former New York Ranger Ron Greschner will also be on hand signing hockey pucks and greeting the crowd.

The Greater New York Chapter hosts this and six other Walks in the New York / New Jersey region throughout the year.  Last year the Walks to Defeat ALS raised a combined total of over $2 million for ALS research and patient care services.  In addition to funding cutting-edge research, the money raised at the Long Island Walk is used to support the ALS Association  multidisciplinary clinic at Stony Brook University Hospital, conduct nursing and social work home visits to people with ALS living on Long Island, loan medical and augmentative communication equipment, provide transportation access for patients to gets to medical appointments, and to facilitate ALS support groups for patients and their families in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. 

ALS, commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a fatal neuromuscular disease.  Approximately 30,000 Americans are currently living with ALS, with 5,600 new diagnoses each year.  Upon diagnosis, the average life expectancy is just 2-5 years.

The walk is wheelchair and stroller accessible. Before and after the walk, there will be family friendly activities such as guest stars, autograph signing by sports celebrities, face painting, Kids Zone, live music, mascots, refreshments, and other fun & games.

To create a Walk team or to donate, please go online and visit the Long Island Walk to Defeat ALS webpage at - www.alswalks.org.  For more information on the Walk, contact Sarah Pattison at (212) 720-3042 or spattison@als-ny.org.