2024 Champaign Walk ALS hopes to raise money and awareness

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Walkers will be raising money and awareness this weekend in Champaign for ALS. For Harsha Gurujal, the event has a much deeper meaning.

His mom, Kumari, was diagnosed with ALS in 2019 and passed away one year later. It wasn’t an easy time, he said. Gurujal said he went from watching her as a “vibrant” woman, to someone who could barely move.

Even though she has passed, he has made it his mission to spread awareness and help other families go down the sometimes challenging path.

“Every 90 minutes, somebody gets diagnosed with ALS, he said. “For me to say that my journey ended with my mom’s death is not true. If there are other ALS patients, then the need for me and the need to help somebody is still there. The sacrifices that I make are minimal. I am trying to help somebody else ease the pain of ALS. I will always do that for the rest of my life.”

The 2024 Champaign Walk ALS is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 8. The event begins at 9:30, with a start time for walkers at 11 a.m.

The walk begins at the park’s pavilion. Organizers estimate the length of the walk to be 1.34 miles.

ALS United hopes to raise $55,000 at the Champaign walk.

More information can be found on ALS United Chicago’s website.

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