Nana's Run celebrates the energy, love of life, and compassion of the late Char VanderLaan, grandmother to event chairpersons, Cassandra DeVos and Sydney DeVos Reames. Char, fondly known as Nana to her grandchildren, passed away from complications attributed to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Together with The ALS Association Michigan Chapter and Mercy Health, Cassandra and Sydney will host the eighth annual Nana's Run 5k on Saturday, May 1st as a way to raise awareness and funds for ALS research and treatment so that they may help others who are affected by this dreadful disease.

The proceeds of Nana's Run will go towards the ALS clinic at the Mercy Health Hauenstein Neuroscience Center in Grand Rapids and to the ALS Association Michigan Chapter.