What is ALS?

Check out Angela's interview on TV20 TONIGHT on the 5:30pm news about Dwight's Fight Courage Walk and Dwight's Fight Against ALS Foundation.

Please also check out more information about the Courage Walk at www.dwightsfight.org

Registration opens at 8AM

What is ALS?

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neuromuscular disease that attacks motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. Early symptoms include muscle weakness or stiffness. As the disease progresses, the body's muscles continue to weaken, which ultimately leads to total paralysis including the ability to speak, swallow or breathe.

Although writings describing ALS date back as far as 1869. New York Yankee great Lou Gehrig brought attention to the disease in 1939 when he retired from baseball after beinig diagnosed. He died two years later.
".....YOU HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT A BAD BREAK I GOT. YET TODAY I CONSIDER MYSELF THE LUCKIEST MAN ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH." -LOU GEHRIG, JULY 4, 1939



A letter from a very strong and courageous man:

Thank you for participating in the 2009 Courage Walk supporting Dwight's Fight Against ALS on behalf of the Gainesville Community Foundation. After my diagnosis of Lou Gherig's Disease in early 2008, my family, friends and colleagues rallied around me by providing their love, support and generosity beyond measure. From this outpouring came the formation of the charity that bears my name, yet will directly impact the lives of others in Gainesville and North Central Florida who are diagnosed with this horrific disease.

It if my hope that we can join together to spread awareness of ALS and offer tangible encouragement to the men and women of our community who battle this disease so courageously.

YOU are a key element in making the 2009 Courage Walk a success! By supporting this year's Courage Walk, your donations will be used to provide gift tote bags filled with generous offerings to ALS patients and their families upon diagnosis. It is our goal to have corporate "Partners for the Mission" help generate gift certificates that will make the journey a bit easier and manageable for these families. In addition, the Dwight's Fight Loaner Closet will make available some of the most needed and durable medical equipment (walkers, lift chairs, bath equipment, etc) upon request.

From my family to yours - thank you!

-Dwight Johnson and Friends of Dwight's Fight Against ALS