The 3rd Annual Santa Rosa Walk to Defeat ALS

Starting the 2016 Walk to Defeat ALS season strong
at the 3rd Annual Santa Rosa Walk to Defeat ALS

Santa Rosa, CA - April 30, 2016

The 3rd annual Santa Rosa Walk to Defeat ALS was a beautiful day filled with hope, inspiration and action needed to conquer Lou Gehrig's Disease. Held at Howarth Park in Santa Rosa, an estimated 300 Walkers exceeded this year’s goal and raised nearly $58,000 support of the ALS community.

The morning started off with a wonderful presentation of hope, encouragement and inspiration for the participants. Heartfelt words of thanks were shared by Sue Morris, Vice Chair of the Golden West Chapter Board of Directors and the Team Captain of one of the Walk’s top ten teams, Team Go Bears! Then Golden West Chapter Care Manager Daniel Potapshyn shared his experiences in working with people with ALS and their families. Dr. Lynda Lam of the Kaiser Permanente ALS Clinic in San Rafael and Dr. Catherine Lomen-Hoerth of the UCSF Santa Rosa Satellite ALS Clinic each provided meaningful insight into the care and work being done for the ALS community in Santa Rosa.

“Your efforts through the Walk to Defeat ALS are advancing the search for new treatments and a cure,” said Asher Garfinkel, Vice President of Community Outreach. “These successes include a phase 3 clinical trial by Cytokinetics and over 150 research projects around the world. The funds have also helped our growth in care services and has led to the hiring of additional Care Service Managers, more support for Certified Centers of Excellence and multidisciplinary ALS clinics, and the addition of more support groups. All of which provide people with ALS and their families with increased access and resources. “

This year, there were three Walk teams – Team Ryan, Vince’s ALS Trashers, and Team Williamson – who each had raised over $7000 by Walk day and were all only a few dollars apart from each other. So they were all celebrated and shared the title of “the Top Fundraising Team.”

Team Ryan’s namesake-Ryan Farnsworth- inspired the crowd with his moving words about living with ALS. Diagnosed at 28 years old in 2015, Ryan was an avid snowboarder and hiker who spent a month in India teaching English to children, until his symptoms worsened. Ryan shared his extraordinary gratitude for life and for “the best mom anyone could ever ask for,” Trisha Rice. Trisha not only led the force of Team Ryan’s fundraising success, but was also the heart of the huge circle of friends and family who came out to the Santa Rosa Walk to support Ryan and the ALS Community -- some of whom traveled far for the event.

Community Outreach Coordinator, Sierra Van Burkleo led the walkers in a warm up and then Dr. Lam, Dr. Lomen-Hoerth, Ryan, and our other top fundraisers cut the ribbon and led the walk through scenic Howarth Park trail.

This year’s Santa Rosa Walk had nine returning teams and thirteen new teams, with people traveling from across California and even from Germany to show their support of the ALS community. The Golden West Chapter appreciates all our teams and walkers for their continued enthusiasm and support of our mission. The success of our events like the Santa Rosa Walk to Defeat ALS is only made possible by the hard work and dedication of the volunteers and Walkers and we thank you!

More Walk Day photos will be coming soon on Flickr.