Central Oregonians ‘Walk to Defeat ALS’

Little is known about ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease, but volunteers and supporters want to change that with walks around the nation, to raise money for research.

Hundreds took part in the Central Oregon Walk to Defeat ALS Saturday.

About 40 teams walked around Riverbend Community Park to help raise money toward a statewide goal of over $500,000.

The disease robs people of their ability to walk, speak, swallow and then eventually breathe.

We caught up with Steve Stern, who we interviewed last year about his battle with the disease, to see how things have been going for him.

“My outlook on life: I’m so blessed — I’m loved, I’m satisfied with life,” Stern said. “I guess I would say I’m blessed beyond measure.”

Last time we talked with Stern, he was playing some golf, but he hasn’t been able to play at all this summer.

So Stern sent his golf clubs over to a missionary in Uganda.

There are more than 500 families in Oregon and Southwest Washington and 25 in Bend living with ALS.