More than 1,000 people would participate. The walk would loop around the neighborhood and finish back at the center with food, music, entertainment and kids’ activities. Having the start at the nursing home allowed residents with ALS and MS to participate. Walk Director Maura Graham said the cost of care for ALS residents is “sky-high.” The walk, she said, was fortunate to raise $100,000 last year despite being held virtually, and while that is the goal again this year, so far, the fundraising has gotten off to a slow start.īefore the pandemic, people took part in a two-mile walk from Leonard Florence on Admiral Hill in Chelsea. This is why our efforts to raise funds from this year’s Walk for Living are so important to our residents.” “In addition to the extreme isolation of these residents, COVID has resulted in tremendous financial strain. “The pandemic has been extremely stressful for everyone in our skilled nursing residences, most especially those individuals living with ALS and MS,” said Barry Berman, CEO of Chelsea Jewish Lifecare. This allows them to move independently throughout the residence, improving their quality of life.ĭespite Leonard Florence’s high-level of care, the pandemic created stumbling blocks for these residents in the form of increased isolation because of limited family visits and fewer group activities to prevent the spread of the coronavirus among this especially vulnerable population. The walk is important because every dollar raised goes directly toward patient care and programming for those living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis at the Leonard Florence Center, which it says cares for more people with ALS than anywhere else in the world.įor residents who become immobilized due to the rare progressive neurodegenerative disease for which there is no cure, they can still control lights, turn on the TV, or call for an elevator with the aid of a computer and sensor that tracks head and eye movements to get instructions. The walk has raised more than $2 million over the past 13 years for resident care and activities. 17, aims to raise $100,000 this year, though in years past, when the walk was held in person, it generated as much $150,000. The 13th annual ALS & MS Walk for Living on Sunday, Oct. CHELSEA – The lingering pandemic means Chelsea Jewish Lifecare’s Leonard Florence Center for Living’s major fundraiser will step off virtually for the second year in a row.

Ms detours