Les Turner ALS Foundation Celebrates 40th Anniversary At Annual ALS Walk for Life

HIGHLAND PARK, IL – From ALS Walk for Life: In 1976, when Glenview resident Les Turner was diagnosed with ALS, information, research and services were relatively nonexistent. Given the unpredictable degenerative nature of the disease, today people living with ALS and their families are grateful to have a place to turn for guidance. Locally, they rely on the Les Turner ALS Foundation, an organization celebrating 40 years of service.

On September 16, 2017, the Les Turner ALS Foundation will host its annual ALS Walk for Life at Soldier Field in Chicago. The event will feature a 2-mile course that winds along Chicago’s lakefront and through iconic Solider Field. Meteorologists Phil Schwarz and Tracy Butler of ABC7 Chicago, who have both experienced firsthand the devastation of ALS, will emcee the event, which also includes music, live entertainment, children’s activities and more.

The ALS Walk for Life is a day of hope that unites more than 7,000 participants, making it one of the world’s largest gatherings for the ALS community. Participants walk in teams that honor people living with ALS and pay tribute to those who have lost the fight.

Among the crowd will be honorary team “Lester’s Legacy: 40 Years Strong,” which pays tribute to Les Turner. Team captain and Highland Park resident Wendy Abrams, who served as the Foundation’s executive director for 36 years, credits the founders, board members, volunteers, healthcare professionals, staff and sponsors for helping create and build the internationally-recognized ALS nonprofit.

“Forming this team for the Walk has been a satisfying trip down memory lane, as we’ve reconnected with many people who played a critical role in developing the Les Turner ALS Foundation into what it is today,” said Abrams. “Over 40 years, we have made a tremendous impact on people’s lives and in the global ALS community. Today, there is real hope; the FDA recently approved Radicava, a treatment for the disease, and locally, we established the Les Turner ALS Research and Patient Center at Northwestern Medicine where patients are seen in the Lois Insolia ALS Clinic and researchers at three laboratories are investigating the disease.”

In its 40-year history, the Les Turner ALS Foundation has raised $67 million. The Foundation’s most meaningful accomplishments include the establishment of the nation’s first ALS research laboratory at Northwestern Medicine in 1979, the creation of support programs to help people with ALS and their families, and in 1986 the establishment of the Lois Insolia ALS Clinic, a multidisciplinary patient center at Northwestern Medicine. In 1992, the Les Turner ALS Foundation became a founding member of the International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations, with Abrams taking on a leadership role.

“Our team and the families we serve look forward to the ALS Walk for Life every September, as it’s an inspiring day of celebration, remembrance and honor for those with ALS,” said Andrea Pauls Backman, executive director of the Les Turner ALS Foundation. “We’re proud of how much this event has grown over the years and that it’s raised $12 million for programs such as medical research, Chicago’s premier ALS clinic, support groups, equipment loans, and so much more.”

ALS Walk for Life top sponsors and media partners include: Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, First Bank of Highland Park, Cytokinetics, Sherman Mobility, 303, Hill Rom, Blick Art Materials, 101.9FM The MIX, ABC7 Chicago and Comcast.

Registration
While there is no registration fee, the Les Turner ALS Foundation encourages participants to raise a minimum of $100. Event day registration will open at 9:30 a.m. and the opening ceremony will begin at 10:30 a.m. The event will be held rain or shine. Participants are encouraged to pre-register at www.ALSwalkforlife.org.

ALS
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive disease that causes muscle weakness, difficulty speaking and swallowing, and generally, complete paralysis. In most cases, while the body continues to deteriorate, the mind remains unaffected. Every 90 minutes, someone in the United States is diagnosed with ALS and every 90 minutes, someone in the U.S. dies of ALS. While some symptoms are treatable, there is no known prevention or cure for ALS.

Les Turner ALS Foundation
Founded in 1977, the Les Turner ALS Foundation is Chicago’s leader in research, patient care and education about ALS, serving the vast majority of people with ALS in the area, offering help and hope when it’s needed most. One of the nation’s largest, independent ALS organizations, the Foundation allocates all funds to local research, clinical care and support services for people with ALS in the Chicagoland area. The Foundation’s full spectrum patient service programs include: in-home consultations, support groups, equipment loans, grants and educational activities. The Foundation offers hope for a future without ALS by supporting the Les Turner ALS Research and Patient Center at Northwestern Medicine, bringing together three research laboratories and a multi-disciplinary patient clinic under one umbrella.

Image via Les Turner ALS Foundation