Over 100 participants rally in South Beloit for ALS awareness walk

SOUTH BELOIT, Ill (WTVO) — Walking or riding in South Beloit for ALS and ALS Research, while trying to support those who are currently fighting it.

“We’re not backing down from ALS, everybody has a story and they’re all here today,” said Kendra Alberts, the Vice President of development at ALS United Greater Chicago. “We call it the biggest support group of our year, because this is a place where it’s a safe space where people can come and they can connect with one another, and everyone’s story is unique but yet it all comes back to ALS.”

ALS United has held walks for over a decade in Champaign, Peoria, Chicago, and throughout Northern Illinois. This was the first year it was held in South Beloit, with previous northern Illinois locations including Byron and at Rock Valley College.

“We moved our walk ALS to South Beloit, just because it is a beautiful park here,” explained Alberts. “It’s centrally located amongst the individuals that we serve that are living with ALS, and it’s just a beautiful place to gather and really fight back against ALS.”

There were over 100 people taking part in the walk, with many of them having ALS themselves including Doug Jury who was diagnosed with ALS back in 2020

“It means the world to those of us that are living with the disease,” explained Jury. “It helps I think raise that awareness. The more people that we get involved in the walk.”

Another majority of the walk included people’s support groups that were filled with friends and family. Something Doug says helps keep him and many others with ALS going every day.

“It’s our support system, you know?” said Jury. “It’s not just Pa’s Patrol; it’s all of these teams out here have that same support system.”

With the goal that one day, they will be able to end ALS.