Leading up to the 22^nd annual Walk to Strike out ALS, NewsChannel 13 has been bringing stories about the disease and how it affects people throughout the Capital Region.

ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease can show up differently in different people. Not every person will experience every symptom. Joanne Synder lost her ability to walk and to move.

Some people are unable to speak, have trouble swallowing or slurred speech.

About 30,000 people annually are affected by ALS with an estimated 5,000 new cases diagnosed every year.

Awareness and more money for research is key. Karen Spinelli, operations manager for St. Peter’s ALS Regional Center, said that’s where the center comes in to raise money for research and provide care for families sometimes at no cost to them.

Find more about this cause by watching Faith King’s story.