Video: Adam Nicholas performs "Morning Sun"
Video: Help find treatment options and "You And Me"

The central Gulf Coast of Florida will be rocking on Saturday, Nov. 5, at the first annual Music Fest for ALS. This important fundraiser, organized by Winning the Fight, an all-volunteerorganization, will feature homegrown national recording artist Damon Fowler and a host of others at Town Square Plaza Park in Pinellas Park, with the profits raised committed to the fight against ALS, or as it's more commonly known, Lou Gehrig's Disease.
 
"This is the second major fundraising event for Winning the Fight whose mission is to raise funds dedicated to finding treatment options for ALS patients and making a difference for 30,000-plus ALS patients," saidAndrea Lorry, Managing Director with Winning The Fight. "Our organization is 100-percent volunteer. We are so grateful to the pool of talent that has agreed to perform at this event. It means so much to those with ALS and is near and dear to my heart as I tryto do what is in my power to help my sister and others affected by ALS."
 
The day-long party, organized by Winning The Fight, a 501c3 non-profit entity, begins at 11 a.m. and will feature non-stop roots rock and blues music from the festival's headliner -- Tampa/St. Petersburg native Fowler,as well as The Gregg Billings Band, Amanda Drake and the Barn Burners, Josh Lamkin and Automatic Heat, Adam Nicholas and Matt Winter.
 
Winning the Fight was formed as a walk team to benefit the Tampa natives' sister during the ALS walk last year. The team went on to raise one of the highest amounts of money in the Tampa ALS chapter's history. Teamcaptains Andrea Tedone Lorry and Chiara Tedone then decided to expand Winning the Fight to a 501c3 to do more for their 34-year-old sister and others suffering from ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis).
 
Typically, those stricken with the degenerative motor neuron disease are in their 50s or older, however there has recently been a noticeable rise in the number of patients that contract the disease in their lateteens and early 20s. There also has been an increase in military personnel being affected by ALS at much earlier ages.
 
ALS causes a victim's muscles to slowly atrophy due to the death of neurons feeding the muscles. This progresses until the victim is confined to a wheelchair and ultimately is reduced to needing tubes to breatheand eat. All the while the patient's brain is completely cognizant. There currently is no known cure or treatment for ALS and victims usually succumb to the disease within three to five years.
 
"Events like Music Fest for ALS are incredibly important when it comes to raising awareness and rallying support," said Kim Hanna, Executive Director of the ALS Association Florida Chapter. "ALS affects over 30,000Americans at any given time. With enough support from the community, we will be able to help these people by providing the resources needed to properly fight this devastating disease."
 
Tickets for the Music Fest for ALS cost $10 per person online at www.MusicFestForALS.com or can be purchased for $16 at the gate theday of the event. VIP tickets are available for $30 online and $37 at the gate. Town Square Plaza Park is located at 5010 81st Avenue in Pinellas Park, Fla., off of 49th Street.