THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, SEpTEMbER 19, 2025 Page 11 17th Annual ALS & MS Walk for Living to be Held on October 5th Long Time North Shore Resident John Carroll Chosen as 2025 Walk Ambassador C HELSEA, MA (September 2025) – When ALS residents Steve Saling and Patrick O’Brien moved into the Leonard Florence Center for Living in 2010, they never imagined that 15 years later they’d be sitting side-by-side in front row seats at a Saturday Night Live (SNL) taping after hanging out with music superstar Lizzo. But that’s exactly what happened this past spring. The SNL New York City trip is part of the award-winning Outward Bound program at the Leonard Florence Center for Living, operated by nonprofit Chelsea Jewish Lifecare. Home to seniors as well as residents living with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), MS (multiple sclerosis) and those dependent upon ventilators, the Center’s annual ALS & MS Walk for Living pays tribute to these inspiriting residents. “SNL was the thrill of a lifetime,” said Steve Saling. “We were treated like VIPs and got a meet and greet with Lizzo before the show. It was super cool to see behind the scenes and how they put the show together.” Outward Bound enables residents to enjoy events outside the skilled nursing home environment. Bringing residents, some on ventilators, to an out-of-state event is no small feat—it requires an extraordinary level of coordination, expertise, and care. From dedicated respiratory therapists who ensure each resident’s breathing support is continuously monitored, to a registered nurse who provides critical medical oversight throughout the journey, to a specially equipped van, every detail matters. For the residents, these outings are a way to participate in activities that were part of their lives before they became disabled as well as make new memories. As the country’s first urban model Green House® skilled nursing facility, the Leonard Florence Center provides a level of independence not typically found in other skilled nursing facilities. The Center takes care of more individuals living with ALS than any place else in the world. Significantly, the Stein Family Center for Well-Being, the only Green House® ventilator program in the country, opened within the Center in 2020. The 2025 ALS & MS Walk for Living will honor John Carroll, a resident of Beverly, MA. Carroll, Managing Principal at The B.C. Group Private Wealth Management, has been an active supporter of the Leonard Florence Center and its residents. Each year John and his team proudly donates an All-Inclusive Boston Celtics Suite Experience to a group of ALS, MS and vent dependent residents and their families. “Sharing is caring,” explains Carroll. “The residents of the Leonard Florence Center inspire me every day with their courage, determination, humor and zest for living.” “We are delighted to have John Carroll act as our ambassador for this year’s Walk for Living,” said Barry Berman, CEO of Chelsea Jewish Lifecare. “I have known John for many years and see, firsthand, how much he genuinely cares about our residents. John is a wonderful friend to our organization.” The ALS & MS Walk for Living will take place at 10 am on Sunday, October 5 at 165 Captains Row on Admiral’s Hill in Chelsea. Every single dollar raised goes directly back to patient care and programs for the ALS and MS residents. To register, go to the Walk for Living website and click on register. Following the two-mile, dog-friendly walk, there will be a BBQ hosted by Chili’s, face painting, live dance performances, petting zoo and more. The $20 donation fee includes a Walk for Living tee shirt as well as all food and activities. Gold level sponsors include HPC, the Hartford Provision Company; A.H.O.A. and applied Form + Space. Independent Newspaper Group is the media sponsor. For more information or to make a muchappreciated donation, please visit www.walkforliving.org, contact Walk Director Maura Graham at mgraham@chelseajewish.org or call 617-4098973. All donations are tax deductible. About Chelsea Jewish Lifecare Chelsea Jewish Lifecare is redefining senior care and reenvisioning what life should be like for those living with disabling conditions. The eldercare community includes a wide array of skilled and short-term rehab residences, ALS, MS and ventilator dependent specialized care residences, traditional and specialized assisted living options, memory care, independent living, adult day health, and homecare and hospice agencies that deliver customized and compassionate care.
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