NEWS

WIRES

OTHER

Walk to D'Feet ALS(r) for Lou Gehrig's Disease To Debut in Dayton

COLUMBUS, Ohio , Aug. 30, 2004 -- The Western Ohio Chapter of The ALS Association, serving the greater Dayton area, announces the 1st annual Walk to D'Feet ALS(r) on Sunday, September 12, 2004, at the Community Park East, 691 E. Dayton-Yellow Springs Rd., in Fairborn. Registration begins at 10 a.m. and the walk begins at 11:00 a.m. The four-mile walk is open to the public and all funds raised will be donated to The ALS Association, a not-for-profit organization providing local patient services to those suffering from ALS. To learn more about the Walk to D'Feet ALS(r), a national fundraiser of The ALS Association, call toll free: 866-273-ALSA or visit www.walk.alsohio.org to register on-line.

ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a devastating and always fatal neuromuscular disease. Unless a cure is found, over 300,000 Americans living today will die from ALS. The financial cost to families of persons with ALS can be up to $200,000 per year, depleting entire savings of relatives and patients.

This is the inaugural year for the Walk to D'Feet ALS(r) in the Dayton area. Please join us in a successful walk this year to benefit cutting-edge research and vital patient services. The ALS Association is funded solely by donations, and all services to patients are offered free of charge. This year's sponsors include The HoneyBaked Ham Co. of Ohio, Inc. Last year, chapters held Walks in 110 cities across the nation, with approximately 100,000 participants raising more than $7 million. This year, the goal is to raise $8 million through 140 Walks that will take place in 120 cities nationwide.

The ALS Association is the only national not-for-profit voluntary health organization whose sole mission is to find a cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (LOU GEHRIG'S DISEASE) as well as improve living with ALS. For more information, call The ALS Association toll free at 866-273-ALSA or visit www.walk.alsohio.org.

CONTACT: 
The Western Ohio Chapter of The ALS Association
Marlin K. Seymour, Executive Director
866-273-ALSA
Fax: 614-273-2573