WHS Step Challenge
The Winchester High 2026 School Coaches & Staff 70,000 STEP CHALLENGE TO HELP END ALS is underway and we hope we can count on you to support this important fundraising campaign to support the Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS at MGH to bring the world closer to a cure.
ALS, a progressive neurodegenerative disease, remains one of the most devastating conditions we know. This is not just a statistic, it is a stark reality: every 90 minutes, someone is diagnosed with ALS, and in that same span of time, another life is lost to the disease. Following the onset of symptoms, life expectancy is typically just two to five years. The lifetime risk is approximately 1 in 300 for men and 1 in 400 for women. While the likelihood increases with age, ALS can affect individuals at any stage of life. It is not a peaceful disease, either, not that any is. ALS is terribly cruel for all involved.
How you can help:
Easy! You can support us! All funds raised will support groundbreaking research at The Healey Center at MGH. Support our fundraising with any amount. Large or small, it all adds up and makes an impact. Our goal is $7,000 but with everyone’s help, we can crush that. We know we can!
Who’s in? Stepping up to The Challenge this summer are Winchester High School’s very own: Nick Fazio (football), Chris Noeth (boys track and field head coach, indoor assistant track coach),Craig Mackenzie (former rugby and football coach), Jason Cacciapuoti (former head track and field coach), Jared Huber (unified bowling and basketball coach), Wally Dembowski (head football coach and freshman basketball, assistant track and field), Will O’Connor (assistant football and assistant indoor and outdoor track), Michelle White (head coach field hockey), and John Fleming (girls and boys volleyball and boys basketball coach).
Background: ALS is a disease that has devastated the Winchester and WHS community more times than it should any! 70,000 steps equate to about 35 miles, so this is not an easy task – especially in this heat! Coach John Fleming has been holding SPIKE OUT ALS nights every year since 2016 and is always on the front lines with us helping to end ALS in memory of his dad, many friends who have also lost their battle to ALS, and many he knows who are living so courageously with the disease now. These amazing coaches make the world a better place every day by leading youth sports and we know they’d love support of all they are doing to help fuel our ALS research and care.
Donate via the donate button or via your Donor Advised Fund! If you’d prefer to donate via your DAF, simply email Jennifer DiMartino at jadimartino@mgb.org. If you'd prefer to send a check, please make payable to Mass General Brigham, and in the memo line, please write WHS 70 Steps for Healey ALS Center.
We can’t thank you enough!
The WHS Coaches & Staff of the 70,000 Step Challenge for ALS!