Monterey ALS walk brings hope for a cure

The 16th annual ALS walk was held in Monterey Saturday.

More than 350 people gathered at El Estero park to help raise awareness about Lou Gehrig’s disease, as well as funding for research.

It is a deadly disease that attacks nerves in the brain and spinal chord.

Many of the people who attended have either been personally effected or have family members with the illness. We spoke with people who have had loved ones pass away from ALS. They say days like these are essential.

“It’s incredibly important, it’s a way to keep the battle going, keep fighting ALS for our family, we’ve lost two people to ALS, my father, in my cousin’s husband Marty as well. So it’s a way to keep raising money and find a cure,” says Jared Gill.

“The cruel thing about this disease is, is that the mind is intact, so even though you can’t speak, you want so badly to say something, to be part of a conversation, and to move. And again there’s no cure so the purpose of these walks is to be able to find a cure to raise money, but in the mean time we want to be able to provide services for the folks that are living with the disease today,” says Nohea Nakaahiki, who lost her husband to the disease.

Experts say they are working on a medicine that would help ALS patients greatly, by activating muscle strength. It could be available as early as next year.

This year’s event raised $56,000. Those funds will not only go to research, but also medical services for patients.