Thank you for helping me reach my ALS Walk fundraising goal! The Walk raises funds to support those affected by ALS and to spread awareness of the urgency to find treatments and a cure. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, fatal neuromuscular disease that slowly robs the body of its ability to walk, speak, swallow and breathe. The life expectancy of a person with ALS averages 2 to 5 years from the time of diagnosis. ALS can strike anyone, and presently there is no known cause or cure.