Registration open for annual ALS walk coming up in Hilo

Come support those affected by Lou Gehrig’s Disease, also known as ALS, during an annual walk in Hilo.

The ALS Network will host its 3rd annual Big Island Walk and Roll to Cure ALS on Sept. 6 at Wailoa River State Recreation Center, located at 799 Piilani St.

This community event is open to the public and is designed to appeal to every level of walker and supporter of the ALS Network. It’s also an opportunity to honor those impacted by ALS and bring awareness to the disease.

The nonprofit is hoping to raise more than $25,000. Proceeds from the walk will go toward Hawai‘i programs and services for Hawai‘i’s ALS community, according to a press release from ALS Network.

“Bringing the Walk & Roll to Hilo means showing our island ohana that no one fights alone. Every step we take here brings hope, support, and strength to families living with ALS right in our own community,” said Maria Sy, Lead Volunteer for the Big Island Walk & Roll to Cure ALS.

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.

ALS, which stands for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, 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.

The mission of the ALS Network is to partner with the ALS community as we drive the discovery of prevention strategies, treatments, and cures for ALS; provide access to quality care and connection; and promote initiatives to improve health outcomes. The ALS Network, formerly ALS Golden West, serves people with ALS and their families throughout California and Hawaii.

Those interested in participating can register online at alswalkbigisland.org till Sept. 5 at 8 p.m. However, the nonprofit will allow supporters to register the morning of the event, beginning at 9 a.m.

The walk begins at 10 a.m.

For questions, contact AnnMarie Ingham, Director of Community Outreach at BIwalk@alsnetwork.org or call 808-480-9689.

For more information about ALS and the ALS Network, visit alsnetwork.org or email info@alsnetwork.org. You can also find the ALS Network across social media channels at @yourALSnetwork.