ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Progress
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Thank You To Everyone Who Participated In The Golden West Chapter's Walk To Defeat ALS - You Make A Difference In The Fight To Defeat ALS
This year’s Fall Walks to Defeat ALS drew a record number of participants and record donations for the Golden West Chapter. To date, our 2014 Walkers have brought in a goal-shattering $2 million and counting, in support of the ALS community. The Golden West Chapter's Fall Walk season began in September at our second annual Hawaii Walk to Defeat ALS. Mahalo for all the love and support we continue to receive from our teams, walkers and volunteers in the great State of Hawaii. We kicked off our Southern California Walk season at The Park at Riverwalk in Bakersfield for the 11th Annual Kern County Walk to Defeat ALS on Saturday, October 4. The Bakersfield High School football team and cheerleaders turned out en masse to honor their coach, Lance McCullah. In addition to walking, the cheerleaders served as our finish line all-stars – cheering for everyone that crossed under the arch to complete the Walk. “In the 11 years since beginning our Walk, we are proud to announce that we’ve reached a $1 million fundraising milestone,” says Stacy Inman, Advisory Trustee of the Golden West Chapter and chair of the Kern County Walk Committee. To view all of the photos from the Kern County Walk, click here . Then we kicked off our Northern California events at the El Estero Park for the 13th Annual Monterey Walk to Defeat ALS on Sunday, October 5. It was a beautiful day to celebrate and support the fight for a cure. “Having been a part of this inspiring walk for several years now, it never ceases to amaze me how much of a positive impact one community can make in the fight against ALS”, says Lori Grimes, Team Captain of The Fist Bumps. Over $110,000 has been raised so far this year with 24 teams and 600 people participating in the event. To view all of the photos from the Monterey Walk, click here .
Also on October 5, over 700 Walkers gathered at Plaza Park for the 10th Annual Ventura/Santa Barbara County Walk to Defeat ALS. Mayor Cheryl Heitmann welcomed and thanked everyone for their participation then shared her personal ALS experience. Congresswoman Julie Brownley’s office presented the Golden West Chapter with a Certificate of Congressional Recognition for our continued efforts on behalf of those in the Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties that are living with ALS.
For our 10 year anniversary, we honored three teams who have supported us since the first walk. Thank you Ventura "Ski" Team led by Chris Chergoski, NIVLAC V led by Bethe Sullivan and Whitwalkers led by Lisa Yates for your 10 years of support of the Ventura/Santa Barbara County Walk to Defeat ALS. To view all of the photos from the Ventura/ Santa Barbara County Walk, click here. A special thank you to our Walk sponsors Superior Mobility and Gold Coast Broadcasting for your support. The following week, on Saturday, October 12, participants of the 11th Annual Inland Empire Walk to Defeat ALS showed that they meant business when a record 102 teams showed up to fight Lou Gehrig's Disease. The morning began with a special Color Guard Presentation of the Colors led by Commander Jerry Cunningham of the La Verne chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The mascot for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes was on hand to encourage Walkers as they began the course as well as to provide high-fives to them upon their return. The more than 1,300 participants proudly walked in honor and in memory of their loved ones. To view all of the photos from the Inland Empire Walk, click here. We would like to thank our Walk day sponsors American Career College, Loma Linda and Superior Mobility That same day, more than 700 Walkers gathered at the Arena Green in San Jose for the 13th Annual South Bay Walk to Defeat ALS. This walk has raised over $320,000 to date! Additionally, it was the largest South Bay Walk to Defeat ALS for both the number of attendees and the amount of money raised. “It is truly amazing and inspiring!” said Bev Nocero, Co-Team Captain of Sarge4Life and Co-chair of the South Bay Walk Planning Committee. Over 80 teams participated and 1,100 people attended the event. To view all of the photos from the South Bay Walk, click here . The 14th Annual East Bay Walk to Defeat ALS on October 19, had a great turnout too. Over 1,000 walkers showed up at Heather Farm Park in Walnut Creek to support people living with ALS. This walk has raised over $250,000 to date. Alan Wang from ABC 7 in San Francisco served as the Walk’s emcee. Team Ferrari was in full force with 250 team members ready to walk and support our cause - their team fundraising has surpassed $90,000. At the time of the Aalk, they were the fourth highest Walk fundraising team in the entire country! To view all of the photos from East Bay Walk, click here. That same day, our 12th Annual Los Angeles County Walk to Defeat ALS was special in more ways than one. Not only was it the biggest of our walks in terms of participants and funds raised, more than 3,000 people attended and more than $709,000 has been raised to date, the LA Walk was supported by celebrities including Academy Award winning actresses Renee Zellweger and Reese Witherspoon. The two actresses were on hand to lend their support to their long-time publicist and friend, Nanci Ryder who was recently diagnosed with ALS. Renee, Reese and Team Nanci were joined by the staff of BWR Public Relations, CAA, friends, family and other notables such as Bobby Shriver, Emmy Rossum, Mae Whitman, Rose McGowan, Elyse Gabel, Catherine McPhee, Brooke Burns, Rosanna Arquette, Kate Linder and the Queen of Pilates Mari Winsor. Mari herself was recently diagnosed with ALS, but she didn’t let that stop her from leading the LA Walkers in a warm up prior to the beginning of the Walk. |
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“Thank you- every one of you- for the work you’ve been doing for so many years,” said Renee Zellweger in her opening remarks. “This is a wonderful day…I know that everybody here has been touched by this disease your family, your best friend, people here today who are fighting the disease. I say thank you and gratitude that we could turn to you and join this community when my friend was diagnosed and in need of answers and support.” Elex Michaelson from ABC 7 in Los Angeles served as the Walk’s emcee. The two-mile route began in front of the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, around the Natural History Museum and California Science Center and through the picturesque rose garden before a celebratory finish that included team pictures under the arch. To view all of the photos from the LA Walk, click here.
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The 13th Annual Central Valley Walk to Defeat ALS wrapped up our walk season on October 25. Over 50 teams participated in the Walk and team spirit was very high. The team members of “Pistol Pete” were all dressed in western attire and carried posters that read “Wanted: the cure for ALS”! Another team called “Walk N Roll” made motorized Lazy Boy chairs (fully reclined ) and completed the walk while being comfy at the same time! To view all of the photos from the Central Valley Walk, click here. The global exposure of the Ice Bucket Challenge has increased awareness of ALS in a way that no one could have ever imagined. As the conversation continues and the momentum of awareness builds, the closer we get to finding treatments and a cure. Thank you for your ongoing support. It is only together that we will defeat ALS.
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Thank You To Everyone Who Participated In The Golden West Chapter's Walk To Defeat ALS - You Make A Difference In The Fight To Defeat ALS
This year’s Fall Walks to Defeat ALS drew a record number of participants and record donations for the Golden West Chapter. To date, our 2014 Walkers have brought in a goal-shattering $2 million and counting, in support of the ALS community. The Golden West Chapter's Fall Walk season began in September at our second annual Hawaii Walk to Defeat ALS. Mahalo for all the love and support we continue to receive from our teams, walkers and volunteers in the great State of Hawaii. We kicked off our Southern California Walk season at The Park at Riverwalk in Bakersfield for the 11th Annual Kern County Walk to Defeat ALS on Saturday, October 4. The Bakersfield High School football team and cheerleaders turned out en masse to honor their coach, Lance McCullah. In addition to walking, the cheerleaders served as our finish line all-stars – cheering for everyone that crossed under the arch to complete the Walk. “In the 11 years since beginning our Walk, we are proud to announce that we’ve reached a $1 million fundraising milestone,” says Stacy Inman, Advisory Trustee of the Golden West Chapter and chair of the Kern County Walk Committee. To view all of the photos from the Kern County Walk, click here . Then we kicked off our Northern California events at the El Estero Park for the 13th Annual Monterey Walk to Defeat ALS on Sunday, October 5. It was a beautiful day to celebrate and support the fight for a cure. “Having been a part of this inspiring walk for several years now, it never ceases to amaze me how much of a positive impact one community can make in the fight against ALS”, says Lori Grimes, Team Captain of The Fist Bumps. Over $110,000 has been raised so far this year with 24 teams and 600 people participating in the event. To view all of the photos from the Monterey Walk, click here .
Also on October 5, over 700 Walkers gathered at Plaza Park for the 10th Annual Ventura/Santa Barbara County Walk to Defeat ALS. Mayor Cheryl Heitmann welcomed and thanked everyone for their participation then shared her personal ALS experience. Congresswoman Julie Brownley’s office presented the Golden West Chapter with a Certificate of Congressional Recognition for our continued efforts on behalf of those in the Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties that are living with ALS.
For our 10 year anniversary, we honored three teams who have supported us since the first walk. Thank you Ventura "Ski" Team led by Chris Chergoski, NIVLAC V led by Bethe Sullivan and Whitwalkers led by Lisa Yates for your 10 years of support of the Ventura/Santa Barbara County Walk to Defeat ALS. To view all of the photos from the Ventura/ Santa Barbara County Walk, click here. A special thank you to our Walk sponsors Superior Mobility and Gold Coast Broadcasting for your support. The following week, on Saturday, October 12, participants of the 11th Annual Inland Empire Walk to Defeat ALS showed that they meant business when a record 102 teams showed up to fight Lou Gehrig's Disease. The morning began with a special Color Guard Presentation of the Colors led by Commander Jerry Cunningham of the La Verne chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The mascot for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes was on hand to encourage Walkers as they began the course as well as to provide high-fives to them upon their return. The more than 1,300 participants proudly walked in honor and in memory of their loved ones. To view all of the photos from the Inland Empire Walk, click here. We would like to thank our Walk day sponsors American Career College, Loma Linda and Superior Mobility That same day, more than 700 Walkers gathered at the Arena Green in San Jose for the 13th Annual South Bay Walk to Defeat ALS. This walk has raised over $320,000 to date! Additionally, it was the largest South Bay Walk to Defeat ALS for both the number of attendees and the amount of money raised. “It is truly amazing and inspiring!” said Bev Nocero, Co-Team Captain of Sarge4Life and Co-chair of the South Bay Walk Planning Committee. Over 80 teams participated and 1,100 people attended the event. To view all of the photos from the South Bay Walk, click here . The 14th Annual East Bay Walk to Defeat ALS on October 19, had a great turnout too. Over 1,000 walkers showed up at Heather Farm Park in Walnut Creek to support people living with ALS. This walk has raised over $250,000 to date. Alan Wang from ABC 7 in San Francisco served as the Walk’s emcee. Team Ferrari was in full force with 250 team members ready to walk and support our cause - their team fundraising has surpassed $90,000. At the time of the Aalk, they were the fourth highest Walk fundraising team in the entire country! To view all of the photos from East Bay Walk, click here. That same day, our 12th Annual Los Angeles County Walk to Defeat ALS was special in more ways than one. Not only was it the biggest of our walks in terms of participants and funds raised, more than 3,000 people attended and more than $709,000 has been raised to date, the LA Walk was supported by celebrities including Academy Award winning actresses Renee Zellweger and Reese Witherspoon. The two actresses were on hand to lend their support to their long-time publicist and friend, Nanci Ryder who was recently diagnosed with ALS. Renee, Reese and Team Nanci were joined by the staff of BWR Public Relations, CAA, friends, family and other notables such as Bobby Shriver, Emmy Rossum, Mae Whitman, Rose McGowan, Elyse Gabel, Catherine McPhee, Brooke Burns, Rosanna Arquette, Kate Linder and the Queen of Pilates Mari Winsor. Mari herself was recently diagnosed with ALS, but she didn’t let that stop her from leading the LA Walkers in a warm up prior to the beginning of the Walk. |
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“Thank you- every one of you- for the work you’ve been doing for so many years,” said Renee Zellweger in her opening remarks. “This is a wonderful day…I know that everybody here has been touched by this disease your family, your best friend, people here today who are fighting the disease. I say thank you and gratitude that we could turn to you and join this community when my friend was diagnosed and in need of answers and support.” Elex Michaelson from ABC 7 in Los Angeles served as the Walk’s emcee. The two-mile route began in front of the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, around the Natural History Museum and California Science Center and through the picturesque rose garden before a celebratory finish that included team pictures under the arch. To view all of the photos from the LA Walk, click here.
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The 13th Annual Central Valley Walk to Defeat ALS wrapped up our walk season on October 25. Over 50 teams participated in the Walk and team spirit was very high. The team members of “Pistol Pete” were all dressed in western attire and carried posters that read “Wanted: the cure for ALS”! Another team called “Walk N Roll” made motorized Lazy Boy chairs (fully reclined ) and completed the walk while being comfy at the same time! To view all of the photos from the Central Valley Walk, click here. The global exposure of the Ice Bucket Challenge has increased awareness of ALS in a way that no one could have ever imagined. As the conversation continues and the momentum of awareness builds, the closer we get to finding treatments and a cure. Thank you for your ongoing support. It is only together that we will defeat ALS.
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