The government shutdown has forced the cancellation of the annual Walk to Defeat ALS on the National Mall, disappointing participants nationwide.
WASHINGTON — The ongoing government shutdown has claimed a heartbreaking casualty this weekend: the annual Walk to Defeat ALS on the National Mall.
The event, which raises vital funds for research and awareness for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis—also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease—was cancelled because the federal work stoppage closed all events on the monument grounds.
The announcement has deeply disappointed participants who travel from across the country to attend. For them, it’s about losing more than a walk.
Every year, thousands gather in D.C. for the ALS walk, but this year, it simply won’t happen.
For families like Dr. Elise Riley and her husband John Simson, the cancellation means losing their annual dose of community.
Three years ago, Dr. Riley, a physician, was diagnosed with ALS, a swift and nearly always fatal neurodegenerative disease.
“I’m a physician, so I knew what the future held,” Dr. Riley shared. “I understood the diagnosis and obviously it’s devastating.”
Since then, the couple has adjusted, modifying their home and staying abreast of the latest research. A core part of their support system has been the annual walk.
“It’s wonderful to connect with others with ALS because they truly understand what you’re going through, and their families understand,” Dr. Riley said. “You don’t have to explain anything.”
The Crucial Need for Connection
Dr. Riley and Simson looked forward to the feeling of togetherness the walk provides, but their hopes were dashed Thursday morning when the ALS Association notified them of the cancellation.
A spokesperson for the Walk to Defeat ALS confirmed the federal closure of the National Mall meant the event could not proceed. No walk means more than a loss of fundraising; it’s a loss of precious time for their community to gather.
Simson echoed the gravity of this loss, especially in the context of a quick-moving disease. “We never know when it’s going to accelerate. We know some people who are going to be at the walk this year who probably won’t be there next year.”
Despite the setback, the Simsons won’t let the government shutdown stop them from celebrating life and community.
“Tomorrow we’re going to have some bagels and stuff, and then find a lot of our friends,” Dr. Riley stated.
They plan to do the simple thing many take for granted: they’ll take their walk in their own neighborhood.
“We’re gonna go on the walk, and we will go walk in our neighborhood,” she affirmed.
If ALS can’t stop them, neither can a government shutdown.
Fundraising Efforts Continue
The spokesperson for the Walk to Defeat ALS noted that they had raised approximately 60% of their $525,000 goal. They were counting on the day of the event to help put them over the top.