-Event to be attended by Detroit Mayor Dave Bing and Quicken Loans CEO Bill Emerson-

Livonia, Mich., Sept. 25, 2009 — On Saturday, Oct. 3, walkers from all over metro-Detroit will flock to Belle Isle to take part in the Walk to Defeat ALS – an event to support ALS research and patient care. The three-mile walk will kick off at the casino on Belle Isle and feature entertainment for adults and children alike.

The Walk to Defeat ALST is the ALS Association’s (ALSA) national signature fundraising event. Registration will begin at 9 a.m. and the family-friendly walk will start at 10 a.m. Strollers, rollerblades and pets are welcome.

“I am pleased that the City of Detroit is hosting the Walk to Defeat ALS on Belle Isle,” said Detroit mayor Dave Bing, who be attending the event. “It is my sincere hope that every step taken by participants in the walk is one more step towards finding a cure and treatment for ALS.”

Joining Mayor Bing will be Bill Emerson, CEO of Quicken Loans and Corporate Chairman for the Walk to Defeat ALS.
“The fight against ALS is one that touches me personally, having lost a loved one to this terrible disease. I am proud of the work that ALSA does every day to provide care, education and research that will one day defeat this debilitating and deadly disease,” Emerson said.

Also joining the group for the walk is Florine Mark, CEO of the Weight Watchers Group, as this year’s celebrity chair.

“I lost my husband to ALS. Not only did the affects of the disease hit home but I have made it a priority to help others who are suffering from ALS and their families. What the ALS Association – Michigan Chapter is doing for this cause is amazing and I am proud to be a part of it,” Mark said.

Participants at the walk will enjoy the sounds of Smooth Jazz V98.7, hosted by morning DJ Sandy Kovach, and the Martin Luther King Jr. High School marching band – who performed at the Olympics in Beijing, China. The Rhythm Pointe Dance Academy will also entertain the crowd and an aerobic warm-up will be conducted by the staff of Compuware. Face painting, an inflatable bounce area and balloons will be available for children, while tailgate-themed food is sure to delight the whole family.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), more commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks nerve cells and pathways in the brain and spinal cord. When these cells die, voluntary muscle control and movement dies with them. Every 90 minutes, someone is diagnosed with ALS and every 90 minutes, someone dies as a result of the disease.

The mission of the ALS Association is to lead the fight to cure and treat ALS through global cutting-edge research, and to empower people with the disease, by providing them with compassionate care and support.

For more information about The ALS Association, the Michigan Chapter, the Walk to Defeat ALS, the critical research and patient services they fund and how you can help, call 248.680.6540 or visit online at www.alsa-michigan.org.

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