Annual ALS benefit scheduled for April

By DAVID IMAN II
diman@poststar.com
Monday, March 5, 2007 1:33 AM EST


LAKE GEORGE -- This year's Alice Turro Fight Against ALS Benefit will be held at J.T. Kelly's Steak & Seafood at The Fort William Henry Conference Center on April 28.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease, is a degenerative neuromuscular disease that affects the cells in the brain and spinal cord that allow for voluntary movement of most muscles.

Eventually, patients lose the ability to move.

Brian Turro's mother, Alice Turro, died of the disease in 2002.

Since then, Turro has worked to raise money for the ALS Regional Center at St. Peter's Hospital in Albany and the ALS Association.

"A majority of our services are for free," said Rosemary Hallenbeck, a case manager at the center. "We look for fundraising to complete our mission."

Many of ALS patients' medical needs aren't covered by insurance, Turro said.

"So, all of a sudden, it's like the cavalry shows up when St. Pete's steps in," he said.

More than $30,000 has been collected at the fundraisers held in Lake George over the past two years.

"The area has been responding wonderfully to us," Turro said.

Admission is free, and money will be raised by donations from people eating at the event, a silent auction and a raffle, Turro said.

Local bands will play from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and an Italian buffet, cooked by Turro, will be served from noon to 6 p.m., he said.

Registration for the event's walk-a-thon begins at 11 a.m. The walk through the village kicks off at noon, Turro said.

Mark Mulholland of Post-Star news partner WNYT-TV NewsChannel 13 and Jaime Kazlo of Capital News 9 are expected to participate in the walk-a-thon, Turro said.

Items totaling between $18,000 and $20,000 will be raffled or auctioned at the event. Among them are gift certificates from local businesses, something signed by Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling, a silk signed by 35 of the top 50 jockeys in the world and eight vacations, Turro said.

For $2, children get daylong admission to an area with a bounce house, prizes and kids' activities, Turro said.

For more information, to donate or to preregister for the walk-a-thon, call Turro at 361-6455.