Annual Walk of Hope to Benefit ALS - Lou Gehrig's Disease.

Lifestyle Editors/Calendar Editors

WAKEFIELD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 18, 2003

The annual "Walk of Hope" for ALS, a 3.5-mile walk around Lake Quannapowitt in Wakefield, Massachusetts, hosted by the Angel Fund and sponsored by the law firm of Nigro, Pettepit & Lucas of Wakefield, will be held on Saturday, September 6th. The event begins with registration on Wakefield Common at 9 a.m. followed by the walk at 11 a.m.

The Angel Fund is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) investigation at Massachusetts General Hospital. Proceeds from the event will support research at the Cecil B. Day Neuromuscular Research Center run by Dr. Robert H. Brown, Jr.

ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, is a progressive, always fatal neuromuscular disease. ALS leads to muscle weakness and as it progresses, results in total paralysis and the inability to speak and swallow while the mind and senses remain intact.

Last year's Walk of Hope raised over $120,000 with over 600 walkers participating. In addition to the walk, the Angel Fund conducts other fund raising events throughout the year which, along with individual and corporate donations, have been beneficial in helping make significant strides in ALS research at Mass General.

Recent discoveries have improved understanding of the disease and have pointed to new concepts in ALS therapy. A gene defect causing one familial form of ALS was identified the mid-1990s that led to cell-based and animal models for ALS. As a result, researchers have been able to study the molecular biology of ALS and to test potential new treatments.

There are several levels of sponsorship for the "Walk of Hope" including raising money through pledges as a walker, becoming a sponsor or corporate sponsor, or making an individual donation as a general contributor, sustaining member or as a member of Ginny's Angel Society, in honor of ALS patient Ginny DelVecchio, the driving force behind The Angel Fund.

Corporate sponsorship includes three levels: $500 - Friends of the Angel Fund (company name displayed on posters at the event); $1,500 - Lake Sponsors (company name displayed at the event and the opportunity to display promotional materials), $2,500 Co-sponsor (will have the privilege of displaying their company banner, their company name on the printed poster and the event booklet, and the opportunity to display promotional material.)

Walkers can participate as individuals or as a team. The event will be held rain or shine and will include refreshments, entertainment, lunch, activities for kids, and prizes for the walkers who raise the most money. Each of the first 500 walkers to register will receive a t-shirt. REI has generously donated walk-related items to the walk.

To register as a walker, or to make a donation to the Angel Fund, please call Paul DelVecchio, Executive Director, at [phone], or Lisa Courtenay, Fund Administrator at [phone], or log-on to either the organization's website at www.theangelfund.org. Donations made payable to The Angel Fund can be sent to The Angel Fund, c/o Lisa Courtenay, 649 Main Street, Wakefield, MA 01880.