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Trailblazing community leader who lost 14‐year battle with ALS to be honored with a public memorial at the 12th Annual Kern County Walk to Defeat ALS

09/27/2016 – Bakersfield, CA

Michael Gagner  
 Michael Gagner  

In 2004, Michael Gagner could never imagine that he would be diagnosed with a terminal illness and become a local hero in the fight against it. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a fatal, neurodegenerative disease that attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. ALS does not discriminate ‐‐ women and men of all ages and backgrounds are at risk, though for unknown reasons veterans are diagnosed with ALS twice as often as civilians.  People with ALS lose their ability to move, speak, swallow and eventually the ability to breathe, while all five senses continue to function normally. Currently, there is no known cure for ALS.

  Michael Gagner, Stacy Inman and Family
  Michael Gagner, Stacy Inman and Family

In partnership with The ALS Association Golden West Chapter, the family and other dedicated supporters helped to launch the Kern County Walk to Defeat ALS. Every year since, the Kern County Walk was organized by a group of dedicated volunteers, whose tireless efforts led to increased services and support for the ALS community. This has included a local care manager, access to multidisciplinary ALS clinics, a support group, and a loan closet of durable medical equipment. Over the course of the next 14 years, Michael faced the challenges of ALS, but through the vital services from the Golden West Chapter, was able to live an active and meaningful life. Sadly, Michael lost his battle with ALS in 2013, and one year later, the Walk had raised a total of over $1 million dollars in support people with ALS, their families and caregivers in Kern County.

Michael Gagner and wife, Stacy Inman  
Michael Gagner, and wife Stacy Inman  

This year, Stacy Inman, Michael’s wife, approached the Bakersfield City Council, Water Resource, and Recreation and Parks Department to request that a memorial be created at the Park at River Walk to commemorate this important annual community outreach event that Michael had helped found. Stacy also met with David Williams, owner of the Williams Monument Company, who helped in conceptualizing a plaque to be placed on a boulder in the park. The Michael Gagner Memorial will be dedicated at this year's Kern Walk, on Saturday, October 1, 2016, during the opening ceremonies. This Memorial also symbolizes the involvement of the communities of Bakersfield and other cities in Kern County to support people with ALS and their families.

  Stacy Inman
   Stacy Inman and Michael Gagner Memorial

The public is invited to join The ALS Association Golden West Chapter at the 12th Annual Kern County Walk to Defeat ALS® on October 1,2016. This annual fall event brings an outpouring of support for those affected by ALS in Kern County. Participants are invited to join in a family‐friendly morning of celebration, exercise, education, awareness, music, food, and kids’ fun. Registration opens at 8:00am, followed byopening ceremonies at 9:30am and a Walk start at 10:00am.The two‐mile walk starts and ends The Park at Riverwalk. All funds raised support the interdependent mission priorities of The ALS Association Golden West Chapter in care services, public policy, and research. For more information or to register, please visit the website at www.KernWalktoDefeatALS.org or www.alsagoldenwest.org. You can also contact Tammy Galt, Community Outreach Coordinator at (559)‐285‐0074 or tgalt@alsagoldenwest.org.


About the ALS Association Golden West Chapter:

The mission of The ALS Association is to lead 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. We are a member of the National Health Council and the only National organization solely dedicated to fighting ALS on all fronts while directly serving the ALS community. By leading the way in global research, providing assistance forpeople with ALS through a nationwide network of chapters, coordinating multidisciplinary care through certified clinical care centers, and fostering government partnerships, The ALS Association builds hope and enhances quality of life while aggressively searching for new treatments and a cure. The Golden West Chapter serves people with ALS and theirfamilies in 31 counties throughout California and in the state of Hawaii.

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Trailblazing community leader who lost 14‐year battle with ALS to be honored with a public memorial at the 12th Annual Kern County Walk to Defeat ALS

09/27/2016 – Bakersfield, CA

Michael Gagner  
 Michael Gagner  

In 2004, Michael Gagner could never imagine that he would be diagnosed with a terminal illness and become a local hero in the fight against it. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a fatal, neurodegenerative disease that attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. ALS does not discriminate ‐‐ women and men of all ages and backgrounds are at risk, though for unknown reasons veterans are diagnosed with ALS twice as often as civilians.  People with ALS lose their ability to move, speak, swallow and eventually the ability to breathe, while all five senses continue to function normally. Currently, there is no known cure for ALS.

  Michael Gagner, Stacy Inman and Family
  Michael Gagner, Stacy Inman and Family

In partnership with The ALS Association Golden West Chapter, the family and other dedicated supporters helped to launch the Kern County Walk to Defeat ALS. Every year since, the Kern County Walk was organized by a group of dedicated volunteers, whose tireless efforts led to increased services and support for the ALS community. This has included a local care manager, access to multidisciplinary ALS clinics, a support group, and a loan closet of durable medical equipment. Over the course of the next 14 years, Michael faced the challenges of ALS, but through the vital services from the Golden West Chapter, was able to live an active and meaningful life. Sadly, Michael lost his battle with ALS in 2013, and one year later, the Walk had raised a total of over $1 million dollars in support people with ALS, their families and caregivers in Kern County.

Michael Gagner and wife, Stacy Inman  
Michael Gagner, and wife Stacy Inman  

This year, Stacy Inman, Michael’s wife, approached the Bakersfield City Council, Water Resource, and Recreation and Parks Department to request that a memorial be created at the Park at River Walk to commemorate this important annual community outreach event that Michael had helped found. Stacy also met with David Williams, owner of the Williams Monument Company, who helped in conceptualizing a plaque to be placed on a boulder in the park. The Michael Gagner Memorial will be dedicated at this year's Kern Walk, on Saturday, October 1, 2016, during the opening ceremonies. This Memorial also symbolizes the involvement of the communities of Bakersfield and other cities in Kern County to support people with ALS and their families.

  Stacy Inman
   Stacy Inman and Michael Gagner Memorial

The public is invited to join The ALS Association Golden West Chapter at the 12th Annual Kern County Walk to Defeat ALS® on October 1,2016. This annual fall event brings an outpouring of support for those affected by ALS in Kern County. Participants are invited to join in a family‐friendly morning of celebration, exercise, education, awareness, music, food, and kids’ fun. Registration opens at 8:00am, followed byopening ceremonies at 9:30am and a Walk start at 10:00am.The two‐mile walk starts and ends The Park at Riverwalk. All funds raised support the interdependent mission priorities of The ALS Association Golden West Chapter in care services, public policy, and research. For more information or to register, please visit the website at www.KernWalktoDefeatALS.org or www.alsagoldenwest.org. You can also contact Tammy Galt, Community Outreach Coordinator at (559)‐285‐0074 or tgalt@alsagoldenwest.org.


About the ALS Association Golden West Chapter:

The mission of The ALS Association is to lead 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. We are a member of the National Health Council and the only National organization solely dedicated to fighting ALS on all fronts while directly serving the ALS community. By leading the way in global research, providing assistance forpeople with ALS through a nationwide network of chapters, coordinating multidisciplinary care through certified clinical care centers, and fostering government partnerships, The ALS Association builds hope and enhances quality of life while aggressively searching for new treatments and a cure. The Golden West Chapter serves people with ALS and theirfamilies in 31 counties throughout California and in the state of Hawaii.

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