You might recall a few years ago when social media feeds were flooded with videos of people dumping buckets of ice cold water over their heads.
These participants were working to raise awareness and money for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a fatal neurological condition affecting nerves and muscles commonly known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
According to the ALS Association, the viral trend raised $115 million for the organization. These funds are credited with helping researchers identify a specific gene linked to ALS.
Now, nearly three years after the Ice Bucket Challenge, the fight continues.
On March 25, the ALS Association Florida Chapter hosted its Greater Tampa Bay Walk to Defeat ALS in Downtown St. Petersburg. The event was just one of many walks around Florida throughout the year as the organization’s primary fundraiser.
About 500 people attended the walk and more than $161,000 was raised for the ALS Association.
In addition to advocacy and helping fund research, the organization also offers free services to patients and families across the state. Julie Niehoff, the ALS Association Florida Chapter’s director of communications and marketing, explained the importance of the walk.
“This disease has been around for over 100 years – it’s horrific what these folks have to go through – and our hope is to find a cure,” said Niehoff. “But the only way that’s going to happen is by helping us spread awareness and getting involved.”
Friends, families and volunteers made up the crowd at the event, bringing together members of the community in support of those being affected by the incurable disease. Doctors and students from the USF ALS Clinic in Tampa were there to spread the word on the services it has provided since 2010.
“It’s kind of a one-stop shop, if you will, for all of their ALS care,” said Brittany Harvey (pictured right), a research coordinator at the clinic.
As a comprehensive resource for ALS patients, families and caregivers, USF’s multidisciplinary clinic offers one-on-one visits with neurologists, therapists and care coordinators.
Harvey said that the current medical treatments for ALS are limited as research is ongoing, but events like the Walk to Defeat ALS help raise the awareness and money needed to hopefully solve this issue.
She suggested that the upcoming generations will help lead the charge against ALS.
“There’s still advances in medicine that need to be made,” Harvey said. “We’re hoping that this next generation of students is kind of looking toward that to help us open up some new horizons and opportunities to help people.”
For more information on the ALS Association Florida Chapter, the Walk to Defeat ALS and ways to get involved, check out the organization’s website here.
More information on the USF ALS Clinic can be found here.
My ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) symptoms started out with a “foot drop” on my left foot. From there my left leg lost all muscle tone and then the entire left leg muscles were gone. Also my fingers and thumbs “contract” at times. Left arm was losing muscle tone too.I was given medications to slow down the progress of the disease,i resorted to a wheelchair (Perbombil C300).This was till my husband’s sister introduced my husband to a herbal clinic in Johannesburg who sell herbal medicines to cure all kind of diseases including ALS, we contacted the herbal clinic via their email and purchased the ALS herbal remedy, we received the herbal medicine via courier within 7 days and commenced usage as prescribed, its totally unexplainable how all the symptoms gradually dissapeared, my speech has greatly improved and am able to walk a distance now with no help, contact this herbal clinic via their email healthherbalclinic(at)gmail(dot)com Or website www(dot)healthherbalclinic(dot)weebly(dot)com
My mother was diagnosed with ALS in May 2014. Her doctor put her on riluzole, letting her know there was no cure but the medication might provide her a few more months of delayed symptoms. ALS progresses at different rates and affects different body parts first. My mother, being 73 at the time, fell into a category of what they call “fast progression” (older female). Her arms weakened first, then her hands, her mouth, and throat, and finally her lungs. Throughout her two-and-a-half-year ordeal, she was able to walk with assistance nothing was really working to help her condition.I took her off the riluzole (with the doctor’s knowledge) and started her on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis herbal formula i ordered from Health Herbal Clinic, her symptoms totally declined over a 5 weeks use of the ALS disease natural herbal formula. She’s now almost 76 and doing very well, the disease is totally reversed!! Visit there website www . healthherbalclinic . net
My first symptoms of ALS occurred in 2011, but was diagnosed in 2013. I had severe symptoms ranging from shortness of breath, balance problems, couldn’t walk without a walker or a power chair, i had difficulty swallowing and fatigue. I was given medications which helped but only for a short burst of time, then i decided to try alternative measures and began on ALS Formula treatment from Akanni herbal centre t, It has made a tremendous difference for me (Visit www. akanniherbalcentre .com). I had improved walking balance, increased appetite, muscle strength, improved eyesight and others.
My first symptoms of ALS occurred in 2011, but was diagnosed in 2013. I had severe symptoms ranging from shortness of breath, balance problems, couldn’t walk without a walker or a power chair, i had difficulty swallowing and fatigue. I was given medications which helped but only for a short burst of time, then i decided to try alternative measures and began on ALS Formula treatment from Akanni herbal centre , It has made a tremendous difference for me (Visit www. akanniherbalcentre .com). I had improved walking balance, increased appetite, muscle strength, improved eyesight and others.
My mom was diagnosed with ALS on 1 year ago and the symptoms progressed so very fast that i couldn’t do anything. she had tripping, dropping, abnormal fatigue of her leg, slurred speech, muscle cramps and twitches. I was very depressed. I couldn’t resist it than to go deep into research for a cure.. It is absolutely killing me to know she can’t do that again. She is terrified of what is to come. I saw a testimony post concerning a lady who once had ALS disease but was reserved using Dr Fabien Herbal product. I order the medicine and my mom used it as instructed for 3 weeks. Omg, during the 1 month of usage, all her symptoms disappeared. This is more than a miracle, I just can’t believe her life is back again. Please lets share this to help others. Thank you Dr Fabien for your Kunime herbal product. Visit www. kunimeherbs. com or email dr.fabiencontantin@ gmail. com
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My first symptoms of ALS occurred in 2011, but was diagnosed in 2013. I had severe symptoms ranging from shortness of breath, balance problems, couldn’t walk without a walker or a power chair, i had difficulty swallowing and fatigue. I was given medications which helped but only for a short burst of time, then i decided to try alternative measures and began on ALS Formula treatment from Akanni herbal centre , It has made a tremendous difference for me (Visit www. akanniherbalcentre .com). I had improved walking balance, increased appetite, muscle strength, improved eyesight and others.
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