Greetings, I hope everyone has enjoyed the summer months, even with the July rains, August hurricane threats and more excessive heat days than in recent past. With the first day of Fall less than a month away, we are looking forward to our 2021 event season and coming together again with our ALS community.
Your support in 2020 allowed us to continue our mission and we need our community again in 2021 – a special thank you to everyone who has already signed up for our events! We made the decision to host our events in person in accordance with federal and state guidance. As each event approaches, our revenue and event staff (Ashley, Laura, and Becca) will provide all participants with any updated health and safety precautions to be taken during the event. Certainly, we recognize that some folks would prefer to participate virtually, as we all did last year with our Walk (Where You Are) to Defeat ALS. There are a couple different ways to participate virtually.
Virtual teams and participants from around the state can sign up as part of the Worcester Walk to be held at Polar Park, which provides the capability to livestream virtual programming. Otherwise, for those North Shore, Western MA, Boston and Ride teams loyal to their event and geography – we get it, we are all New Englanders. You can register for your Walk and send us pictures and videos of your team on the day you walk from wherever you are. We will populate our social media accounts to showcase the amazing support of the MA ALS community. Your choice, we just ask that you have fun.
We need your support to meet our mission to provide care services, advocate on your behalf and invest in ALS research. Join us as we all fight together to end ALS.
Our Care Services Promise
Our Chapter operates a patient-centric care services program. We believe all persons with ALS, their caregivers and families should have access to any and all resources from any and all organizations working with the Massachusetts ALS community. In providing care services, we will work collaboratively with any and all organizations and agencies to meet your needs. Our purpose is to provide care for today and support hope for tomorrow. Please feel free to reach out to me directly: john.hedstrom@als-ma.org.
John E. Hedstrom
Executive Director
John Hedstrom is the Executive Director of The ALS Association Massachusetts Chapter. John came to the Chapter by way of Washington, DC and California with an extensive background in health care advocacy and association executive leadership. He has effected change and served as the front-line voice for multiple national organizations, establishing himself as a trusted resource for many constituencies. John was born and raised in Massachusetts and now resides in the area with his wife and three children. In his tenure at The ALS Association Massachusetts Chapter, John has worked tirelessly to lead the Massachusetts Chapter to the forefront of the ALS Association. He continues to prioritize providing our families with more comprehensive care services, funding additional research, and more robust advocacy efforts.
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