Iowa chapter wins ALS Association award

A volunteer-driven walk in Cedar Rapids helped the Iowa chapter of The ALS Association earn The Association‘s Walk to Defeat ALS Chapter of the Year honors. Cedar Rapids was one of three communities in Iowa to host a walk, along with Des Moines and Sioux City.  Iowa's 2010 Walk to Defeat ALS raised $425,400, more than double the prior year, and had the highest growth rate among the nation's 42 chapters. More than 3,300 walkers participated statewide.

More information is in the media release below:

JOHNSTON, IOWA – March 24, 2011 – The Iowa chapter of The ALS Association walked away with The Association's Walk to Defeat ALS Chapter of the Year honors, presented at the organization's National Leadership Summit in Newport Beach, California.

Iowa's 2010 Walk to Defeat ALS raised $425,400, more than double the prior year, and had the highest growth rate among the nation's 42 chapters. More than 3,300 walkers participated statewide.

“There were many successful walks in 2010, but the effort by our Iowa affiliate was outstanding,” said Jane H. Gilbert, president and CEO of The ALS Association. “Financial support and participation increased dramatically, a result of the organizers' enthusiasm and hard work.”

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), more commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks nerve cells and pathways in the brain and spinal cord. The ALS Association's mission is

leading the fight to treat and cure ALS through global research and nationwide advocacy while also empowering people with Lou Gehrig's Disease and their families to live fuller lives by providing them with compassionate care and support.