This is the Main Page for Team Francesco "Che" Salvaggio

Some people can leave an impact that can never be erased. Francesco "Che" Salvaggio was one of those people. At just 19 years old, he faced his diagnosis with unwavering strength and kindness. Before his ALS diagnosis, Francesco was full of life - an athlete who loved soccer, a devoted older brother, son, cousin, nephew and grandson. Che was a friend to many and and brought joy to everyone around him with his contagious laughter and smile. When his diagnosis came, Che advocated and raised awareness to fund research, moving closer to finding a cure. Francesco passed away on February 17th, 2025. Throughout his four-year battle with ALS he showed his strength and courage throughout, leaving behind a legacy of hope. 

When Che first shared his story, he said:

"This diagnosis has come as a shock to me and my family. In lieu of this diagnosis, I have decided to start a GoFundMe page. My main goal is to raise awareness for this disease and raise funds in hopes of finding a treatment option. Many leading ALS researchers believe that effective treatment options are now a matter of when, not if, and that research discovery is limited only by the amount of funding available to pursue it. All funds raised will be donated directly to the ALS Society of Canada. I want to thank you all for your love and support—it goes a very long way in my heart.”

Che's words remain a call to action, and we are here to continue his fight. Our team is walking in his honour and for everyone battling ALS today. We believe in Che's vision because like he said finding a cure is not a matter of if, but when.

Join Team Che as we walk on Sunday June 8th (Lakeshore Blvd East, Toronto) at 10:00am to fundraise and stand together for Francesco "Che" and for everyone impacted by ALS. #TeamChe

Your support will help to:

• Further scientific progress by investing in the ALS Canada Research Program, which funds promising ALS research. The ALS Canada Research Program is the only national dedicated source of funding for ALS research across Canada. This program provides peer-reviewed grants to researchers whose work has the greatest potential to advance the field of ALS. There’s been more progress made in ALS research in the last five years than over the last century – we need to keep building on this momentum. 
• Create a better day-to-day reality for people and families living with ALS by providing community-based services throughout Ontario – this includes home visits and support groups – as well as necessary medical equipment like hospital beds, wheelchairs, stairlifts, and other items that increase safety in the home, at no cost to those who need them.

Join our team in making a difference. Please consider donating to our team fundraising page as we work toward a world free of ALS.

United, we are stronger together!