By Mike Bockoven
Publication Date: 07/11/03
© The Grand Island Independent

If you've ever known anyone who's suffered from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, the experience stays with you.

That's what Ric Miller, director of awareness and development for the ALS Association of Nebraska, has found.

In fact, in the year and a half since the group has existed, he's found patients, their families and those who have experienced ALS through the death of a loved one make up their core group of volunteers.

Those in the Grand Island area who've had or are having such an experience are going to get their chance to raise awareness for the fatal disease on Saturday, as the ALS Association will hold a kickoff luncheon at Valentino's on North Webb Road in Grand Island.

The ALS Association will be sponsoring the first ALS Walk in Grand Island on Sept. 20. Similar events are held in Columbus and Omaha.

"We find patients and what we call survivors, or those who have had a loved one with ALS, are our core group," Miller said. "While we don't have any patients in Grand Island, we have a few in the surrounding areas, so it seemed like a good location to get started in the area."

ALS, otherwise known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks nerve cells in the brain and the spinal chord.

Symptoms include muscle weakness in the hands, arms, legs or the muscles of speech, swallowing or breathing, twitching, impairment of the use of the arms and legs, "thick speech," and shortness of breath.

Currently around 30,000 people in the United States suffer from the disease which has no treatment or cure, Miller said.

"The family and loved ones can feel very helpless and that's where a lot of our base comes from," Miller said. "There is no treatment and there is no cure so they want to reach out and do something."

Eighty percent of the money raised by the walk will go toward funding a support group in the Grand Island area for those with the disease and those dealing with the disease. The remainder will go toward research for treatments and cures of ALS.

Miller said the luncheon and the walk which will follow is about more than just raising funds. It's about raising awareness in a specific area, and helping those who have no where else to turn.

"We thought it was a bad idea to come into a community and to start raising funds without giving anything back," he said. "We want to make an impact in the communities where we have events."

The kick-off lunch for the ALS Foundations first Grand Island ALS Walk will take place at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, July 12 at Valentino's on North Webb Road. For more information, call (866) 762-6361.