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Walk to Defeat ALS

Walk to Defeat ALS is a nationwide event that unites people affected by ALS—patients, families, caregivers, and supporters—to raise awareness and critical funding for research and patient care.
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Walk to Defeat ALS is a nationwide event that unites people affected by ALS—patients, families, caregivers, and supporters—to raise awareness and critical funding for research and patient care. By bringing communities together, the walk fosters solidarity, highlights the urgent need for better treatments, and empowers participants to make a tangible difference in the lives of those living with ALS.

The Mind Brain Foundation proudly supports Walk to Defeat ALS because its mission aligns with our commitment to advancing research and improving the quality of life for people with neurological diseases. By backing this event, we help fund innovative studies, expand access to care, and amplify the voices of patients and caregivers. Supporting Walk to Defeat ALS allows us to contribute directly to the fight against this devastating disease while strengthening the community of those affected.

Are you familiar with ALS? It’s another mind-brain disease and cause that the MBF considers important to address through fund-raising.

100K

Children Helped

18000

Volunteers Worldwide

$100M

Fund raised

ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.

The name comes from Greek: “A” means no, “myo” means muscle, and “trophic” means nourishment—so “amyotrophic” means no muscle nourishment, causing muscles to waste away. “Lateral” refers to areas in the spinal cord where nerve cells that control muscles are located, and “sclerosis” refers to the hardening or scarring that occurs as these cells degenerate.

In simpler terms, ALS is a fatal neuromuscular disease that gradually robs the body of its ability to walk, speak, swallow, and breathe. Life expectancy after diagnosis averages 2 to 5 years. ALS can affect anyone, and currently, there is no known cause or cure.

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Mind Brain Foundation Walks to Defeat ALS

For perspective on doing the Walk to Defeat ALS, here is the interview Ian Green conducted with his friends…

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From The ALS Association

FAQ

What is History of ALS?

ALS was identified in 1869 by French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot and became more widely known internationally on June 2, 1941, when it ended the career of one of baseball’s most beloved players, Lou Gehrig. For many years, ALS was commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Learn more…

What Are The Stages of ALS?

Once ALS starts, it almost always progresses. Most people with ALS eventually lose the ability to walk, dress, write, speak, swallow and breathe, and their life span is shortened.

Early symptoms of ALS often include muscle weakness or stiffness. Progression of weakness, wasting and paralysis of the muscles of the limbs, trunk, and those that control vital functions generally follows.

What differs most for every person is how fast and in what order symptoms and progression occur. And, while the average survival time is three years, about 20% of people with ALS live five years, 10% survive 10 years and 5% live 20 years or longer.

Progression isn’t always a straight line in an individual, either. It’s common to have periods lasting weeks to months with very little or no loss of function.

Symptoms of ALS

The initial symptoms of ALS can be quite varied. One person may have trouble grasping a pen or lifting a coffee cup, while another may experience a change in vocal pitch when speaking. The progression rate of ALS can be quite variable, as well. Symptoms can begin in the muscles that control speech and swallowing or in the hands, arms, legs or feet. Not all people with ALS experience the same symptoms or the same sequences or patterns of progression. However, progressive muscle weakness and paralysis are universally experienced.

A gradual onset of progressive muscle weakness – which is generally painless – is the most common initial symptom of ALS. Other early symptoms vary but can include tripping, dropping things, abnormal fatigue of the arms and/or legs, slurred speech, muscle cramps and twitches and uncontrollable periods of laughing or crying. When the breathing muscles become affected, people with the disease will ultimately need permanent ventilatory support to assist with breathing.

Since ALS attacks only motor neurons, the senses of sight, touch, hearing, taste and smell aren’t affected. For many people, muscles of the eyes and bladder are generally not affected.

Getting an ALS Diagnosis

ALS is a difficult disease to diagnose. There is no one test or procedure to ultimately establish the diagnosis of ALS. It’s only through a clinical examination and series of diagnostic tests, often ruling out other diseases that mimic ALS, that a diagnosis can be established. Lrarn more…

Is my donation tax-deductible?

– Your donation is fully tax-deductible in the United States. The Mind Brain Foundation is an IRS-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our Tax Identification Number (TIN) is 85-2839492.

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