US – RRT lends a hand at The Walk to Defeat ALS in Detroit MI

On September 26, 2015, the RRT team in Detroit assisted in the operations of a fundraising walk for The ALS Association (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). The event was held at the lovely Campus Marcius, in downtown Detroit. This was a new location for the ALS team and they had concerns as to how the event would pan out. Increased restrictions from the City of Detroit were just some of the many challenges they faced.

A great aerial view of the ALS event grounds and stage

The ALS Association supports and raises awareness for Lou Gehrigs Disease, which currently has no cure. Every 90 minutes someone is diagnosed with ALS and every 90 minutes someone loses their battle to this fatal disease.  Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrigs Disease, is a rapidly progressive, invariably fatal neurological disease that attacks nerve cells (neurons) in the brain and spinal cord which are responsible for controlling voluntary muscles functions. After some time what happens is both the upper and lower motor neurons degenerate or die, which stops sending messages to those muscles. ALS takes away the everyday freedoms that most people take for granted… the freedom to walk, talk, run, play, laugh, eat, hug and eventually the freedom to breathe.

The registration desk is prepared and waiting for their first batch of registration walkers

The Walk to Defeat ALS is the ALS Association’s biggest annual event. The walk is an opportunity to bring hope to people living with ALS, to raise money for a cure and to come together for something you care about. Living with ALS can cost the victims of this disease more than $200,000 per year, above and beyond what is usually covered by medical insurance. The funds raised from this event are used in supporting families that suffer from the disease as well as for research and development to find a cure.

Volunteers setting up the tents and tables Assembling a refreshments booth for the hungry walkers

After a very smooth flowing event, the crowds of exhausted people began making their way back to their cars. The volunteers then started the process for clean up. With so many helping hands, it didn’t take long to dismantle the tents and stalls and neatly pack them into the truck ready for the next event.

RRT Volunteers and ALS Coordinators

Since its inception in 2000, the Walk To Defeat ALS has raised over $215,000,000 to support the vision of a cure for ALS. RRT is very grateful for the opportunity to help assist at one of the events that support this goal!