Overview

• A pre-recorded video from Pope Leo XIV played during the opening ceremony, praising scientists, invoking tikkun olam, calling caregivers "angels," and affirming that "the quality of our lives is dependent on love."
• The 24th annual two-mile Walk for Life stepped off at 10:30 a.m. along Chicago's lakefront and through Soldier Field as the Midwest's largest ALS gathering.
• Organizers reported more than 2,000 participants across 152 teams, walking to honor loved ones and support people living with ALS.
• The event raised funds for care and research at Northwestern Medicine's Les Turner ALS Center and the Lois Insolia ALS Clinic, with a stated goal of $675,000.
• Foundation leaders highlighted ongoing support services and national prevalence figures of about 5,000 new U.S. diagnoses each year and roughly 32,000 Americans living with ALS, while attendees included Augustinian priest Father Jim Halstead, who is living with the disease.