Hawaii ohana makes an impact together at the Big Island Walk & Roll to Cure ALS

The ALS Network held their 2nd annual Big Island Walk & Roll to Cure ALS (formerly the Big Island Walk to Defeat ALS) on Sunday, August 18, 2024 at Old Kona Airport, in Kailua-Kona. This annual event was open to the public, bringing incredible energy and an outpouring of support for those affected by ALS in Hawaii.

Since its inception in 2023, the Big Island Walk & Roll to Cure ALS has been a yearly opportunity for the ALS community to connect and drive the discovery of prevention strategies, treatments, and cures for ALS. Proceeds from the Big Island Walk are used to support our Hawaii programs and services for Hawaii’s ALS community.

“These Walk & Roll to Cure ALS events are vitally important as they raise awareness about ALS, and foster support from our communities and other healthcare providers,” said Rodney Morrell, who has been living with ALS since 2022 and is lead volunteer for the Big Island Walk & Roll. 

This year, the event included a live performance from Sebrina Barron, singer and songwriter born from Haiku, Maui, and sound provided by Rock Island. Rodney was presented with the 2024 Hero Award for his dedication to raising ALS awareness and serving as lead volunteer at the 2024 Big Island Walk.

“We are so thankful for the Big Island community coming together to help us raise funds and awareness for this terrible disease,” said AnnMarie Ingham, Associate Director of Community Outreach, Hawaii. “It’s wonderful to see how powerful of an impact our people living with ALS have on so many others.”

In addition, in honor of the 10th anniversary of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, participants at the Big Island Walk made a splash in the name of ALS awareness. This seemingly simple act ignited a global social movement. Inspired by three individuals living with ALS, the Ice Bucket Challenge transformed from a lighthearted trend into a powerful force for change.

This grassroots phenomenon captured the world’s attention, showing how a community’s collective efforts could fuel scientific research and expand care services for people living with ALS.

“Together, we illuminate the urgent need for ALS multidisciplinary care and trained professionals, ensuring that no one faces this journey alone,” said Rex Like, Regional Care Manager, Hawaii. “Your dedication inspires hope and ignites change for a brighter future.”

Big mahalo to our sponsors: Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, Goodfellow Bros., Hawaiian Rehabilitation Services, Regency Hualalai, and Kaiser Permanente. The ALS Network is incredibly thankful for all the support from these sponsors for the ALS community and in raising ALS awareness.

“To borrow a quote from Lou Gehrig, I truly am lucky and blessed to have many people in my life who are caring and compassionate,” shared Morrell. “One such group is the ALS Network. They have been by my side since day one, ensuring that my needs are met through the insidious advancement of ALS.”

“I have been able to lead a more productive and dignified life due to the continued support of the ALS Network, who are like my family,” Morrell said. “They have supplied me with mobility devices and resources that I otherwise couldn’t obtain, at no cost to me. These are just a few examples of what they are capable of providing to the ALS community.”

Mahalo to our ALS community and ohana in Hawaii for your dedication to the ALS Network’s mission and for joining us for the 2024 Big Island Walk & Roll to Cure ALS. We invite you to see photos from the event here. Also, if you have any photos from the event that you would like to share, please send them to photos@alsnetwork.org.

Please make a gift in support of the mission of the ALS Network. Let’s cure ALS together!