Some people leave an impact that can never be forgotten or 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 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 us closer to finding a cure. Francesco passed away on February 17, 2025. Throughout his four-year battle with ALS, he showed incredible strength and courage, leaving behind a legacy of hope.

When Che first shared his story, he said: “This diagnosis came as a shock to me and my family. 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 progress is limited only by the amount of funding available to pursue it.”

Che’s words remain a call to action, and we are here to continue his fight as we walk in honour of him. We believe in Che’s vision because, as he said, finding a cure is not a matter of if, but when.

Please join Team Che as we walk on Sunday, June 28, 2026, to fundraise and stand together for Francesco “Che” and for everyone impacted by ALS. #TeamChe