A-1 Pest Control Organizes ALS Virtual Walk

LENOIR, N.C. — A-1 Pest Control announced a month-long campaign to raise awareness and funds for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease. This is A-1’s first event to support ALS, and the company hopes to make it an annual occasion.

This year’s inaugural walk will be virtual, with hopes that next year, participants can raise awareness in person. Supporters are asked to join the A-1 Walks 5 for ALS Facebook event page or visit the team page on the ALS Association's website. Participants will walk five miles throughout the month of May to honor the 5,000 people diagnosed with ALS each year. 

Those who wish to donate may do so through the event page. Proceeds go to the ALS Association North Carolina chapter, which helps those living with ALS find treatment and supplies to help with care. Walkers are encouraged to wear red, take a selfie or a group picture and post it on social media using the hashtag #A1Walks5forALS.

At the conclusion of the campaign, A-1 will make a monetary commitment to the local ALS Association chapter. The company, owned by the Roberts family, holds the cause near and dear to its heart, because the late Roberts family matriarch and A-1 co-founder was diagnosed with ALS in her 60s. 

Peggy Roberts first noticed something was wrong when she fell a few times inexplicably when she was 57 years old. Her symptoms came and went for a few years until she noticed her motor skills deteriorating. At the time, she was working in administration for A-1, interacting with customers and handling various account elements. When she left work each day, her husband Jack did too to help take care of her. Other family members provided care assistance to help share the responsibility.

“ALS is a terrible disease that entraps folks physically, all the while leaving them mentally sharp and aware,” said Bruce Roberts, Peggy’s son and president of A-1. “My mother had a great outlook on life, so we did everything we could as a family early in her diagnosis. Like most things in life, one doesn’t realize how many people are affected by ALS until it hits home. With this fundraising effort, we hope to highlight awareness. All proceeds will go directly to the ALS Foundation North Carolina chapter to help fund research for a cure.”