Walk To Defeat ALS
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The ALS Association Florida Chapter


By Deanna Fené
First Coast News

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Nothing is easy anymore for 43-year old Maarten Jans. Three years ago he was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.

Jans once traveled the world and was very athletic. He played competitive water polo in the Netherlands where he grew up. He also enjoyed running, cycling and hitting the ski slopes.

Since his diagnosis his body is slowly failing him. Jans says, "I can't walk. I have a hard time talking and it's getting harder to breathe."

His caregiver and friend Bonnie Ciaravino is constantly by his side helping him with what use to be the simplest of tasks, like getting into a chair. "I'm amazed. It's hard to believe a disease can take a young man and someone that has taken care of his health and has been athletic and very healthy and diminish him to what he is now."

There is no known cause and no cure for ALS, but there is some hope.

"There have been enough advances to give us hope but all this research takes funding; a lot of money and all that has to be raised," said Kamden Alexander with The ALS Association Florida Chapter.

Money raised also helps support patients like Jans to help improve their quality of life. Jans points to his chair which electronically helps him get up and sit down. He says, "I got this chair from The ALS Association."

Most ALS patients only live between two and five years so there is an urgent need to raise money and help find a cure.

The Walk to Defeat ALS takes place this Saturday morning at 9am at Seven Bridges. Interested walkers should call 888-257-1717 or visit www.alsafl.org.