ORLANDO -- Hundreds of people in Orange County hit the road at Blue Jacket Park as part of a walk to raise awareness for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, better known as ALS, or Lou Gehrig's Disease.
Ken Patterson, who suffers from ALS, had a much longer journey planned.
The former Army sergeant began his 940-mile journey by powered wheelchair to Washington to bring more attention and awareness to his disease.
Patterson planned to travel 50 miles and 10 hours a day, carrying a letter from others with ALS, detailing their struggles.
Patterson's wife, Glenda, said it was a simple reason for Ken's long journey.
"Raise awareness for ALS. Too many people don't know what it is, and there's no cure for it, and we want researchers to find a cure for this disease," Glenda Patterson said.
Patterson's sendoff was part of a ALS Walk that helped raise over $100,000 for ALS research.
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