Upcoming San Diego ALS walk raises funds for care and research
Dante Ulanday - News Moderator 
MISSION BEACH (FOX5/KUSI) -- The Walk to Defeat ALS is approaching its 25th year and will take place Sunday, Oct. 5, at De Anza Cove in Mission Bay. It is the ALS Association's largest signature event.
*In the video above, KUSI/FOX5's Allie Wagner talks with Melissa McElvain from the ALS Association and former legendary head coach of Ramona High School, Al Schaffer.
There are over 200 people living with ALS in San Diego, according to Melissa McElvain, the Director of Planned Giving with the ALS Association.
"What the Walk to Defeat does is it helps us to raise funds to provide local care for those ALS families right here in San Diego," McElvain explained. "So local care, nationwide advocacy and global research."
The walk is free to attend.
You can register online or donate to the San Diego Walk to Defeat ALS through the ALS organization.
According to the Mayo Clinic, "Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. ALS causes loss of muscle control."
The San Diego State Men's and Women's basketball teams will be in attendance to support longtime assistant Coach Mark Fisher, who has been battling ALS for several years.
