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ALS IF III is a Venture Capital entity based in the Netherlands, that is cultivating a portfolio of companies developing potential therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.

MOFF has historically philanthropically invested in the “valley of death” stage of drug development, or the early, high risk time frame, which includes animal studies, basic disease understanding projects, and early preclinical studies. At the time (2013-2024), the ALS research community needed to gain a deeper understanding of the disease, and MOFF supported this effort.

Now, according to a Guggenheim Parters report from May 2025, there are an estimated 65 potentially therapies in drug development pipelines. This represents a shift in ALS drug development from basic disease understanding, to clinical therapy development. Therefore, MOFF resources are best spent supporting clinical phase projects on their way to patients in need now.

MOFF has been aware of the ALS Investment Fund since 2017 and had the opportunity to meet with their team, Melanie Leitner (CSO) and Craig Boyce (Managing Partner) in Boston in Nov 2025. Their scientific, industry, and financial knowlege is unquestionable and their alliance with the ALS community is unfaltering.

Four companies within the ALS Investment IF III portfolio are listed below. Click on their logos to learn more.

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February 22, 2025

This event is in memory of Martha Olson-Fernandez, an avid hiker and the namesake of MOFF. Martha passed away from ALS related complications in 2012. Today, her memory reminds us to prioritize health and get up and move in whatever way makes you feel good.

This event has evolved into a hybrid, virtual and in-person, event in our post pandemic world. The “Hike” and “Brunch” sections below outline participation details for the event format you prefer.

Hike

• Hike at a location near you or to Martha’s memorial bench. The bench is located on the Felsman Loop portion of the Bishop’s Peak Trail in San Luis Obispo, CA. In-person participants gather at 10:00 AM and bring roses to Martha’s bench or the top of Bishop’s Peak in honor of those who can no longer hike. Roses will be provided at the trailhead entrance on Patricia Drive.

Brunch

• Head to your favorite brunch spot after you hike! If you are in SLO, the Quesadilla Gorilla restaurant will be donating a portion of proceeds to MOFF. Use code “MOFF” between 12 PM and 3 PM PST on 2/22/25 to contribute to the local ALS community.

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Once diagnosed, many individuals opt to remove themselves from the public eye when they lose the ability to talk, eat, smile, walk.. all activities driven by voluntary muscles. Others immediately start a bucket list. Can you imagine what you would do if you were given 3-5 years to live, or less? 

These people living with ALS (PALS) and their support systems (caregivers, family and friends), often accomplish incredible feats. Feats inspired by avoidance of death and a full awareness of their current capabilities.

Over the past 12 years, MOFF has seen individuals accomplish marathons, ironmans, pour their life savings into ALS research, and even fund the construction of entire hospitals to support ALS patient care.

The ALS INSPIRE SERIES serves as a platform to showcase these remarkable individuals and their accomplishments.

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How Your Support Makes a Difference

Every dollar donated this Giving Tuesday will help MOFF continue our work in three key areas:

1. Funding Research: Understanding the pathogensis of ALS is crucial to developing therapeutic options for this disease. Each year MOFF provides grants between $20,000- $100,000 to ALS researchers for their efforts to better understand disease mechanisms, run clinical trials, optimize therapeutic targets, identify new animal models and more. 
2. Providing Support Services: MOFF distributes an annual grant to the ALS Network that is specifically earmarked for individuals living with ALS (PALs) on the Central Coast of CA. These funds are used by care managers to provide vital services such as physical therapy, transportation services, medication and other disease-related needs. MOFF connects with PALs during local support groups to better understand the unmet needs including the emotional and mental challenges of living with ALS.
3. Spreading Awareness: Awareness is key to driving progress. The more people understand ALS, the more support we can garner for research, care, and advocacy. 

How You Can Get Involved

On Giving Tuesday, your donation, no matter how large or small, will directly impact those living with ALS. Here’s how:

• Donate: A financial gift can help fund vital research or provide care to those who need it most. Click here to donate. 
• Fundraise: Start your own fundraising campaign on our platform. It’s easy and a great way to engage your community about ALS. Click here to fundraise today!
• Share: Help spread the word about ALS and Giving Tuesday on social media. Please share our social media posts, emails and website amongst friends, family, and colleagues to get involved.

Your generosity this Giving Tuesday will bring us closer to a world where no one has to face ALS alone—and where one day, ALS is no longer a life sentence, but a disease of the past. Thank you for your continued support, and we hope you’ll join us in making this Giving Tuesday a powerful day of change and hope for the ALS community.

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Where: Felsman Loop on Bishop’s Peak in SLO or your favorite hike spot wherever you may be located!

This event is hosted annually in memory of Martha and all those active individuals whose time was cut short by ALS. We hike in honor and in memory of those who can no longer hike.

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Hike: February 25 & 26: The hike portion of the event will be scaled back in SLO this year (the Fernandez Family will not be present because they are planning a wedding), but everyone is still encouraged to hike to raise awareness of ALS! Flowers will be at the base of Felsman Loop at the Patricia Street Trailhead of Bishop’s Peak on Saturday. Martha’s memorial bench is located on the west side of the loop. Don’t forget to tag @moff.cureals on Instagram

Happy Birthday, Martha! (24-Feb)

National Chowder Day is on Saturday, February 25!

Brunch: MOFF has been selected as Splash Café’s local charity partner! MOFF will receive 10% of chowder sales on National Chowder Day! National Chowder Day will be celebrated on February 25th & 26th at both Splash Café locations (Pismo Beach and San Luis Obispo). The MOFF team has worked with Splash for almost every single Hike x Brunch. We are incredibly grateful for their partnership and for the opportunity to highlight the ALS Community presence on the Central Coast.

Learn more about the collaboration and how to support on the Splash Café website

NATIONWIDE SHIPPING INSTRUCTIONS BELOW

Order chowder for NATIONWIDE shipping on the Gold Belly website. Use discount code SPLASH10. Valid Friday (24-Feb)-Monday(27-Feb) on orders over $50.

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The Martha Olson-Fernandez Foundation Annual Hike x Brunch

  Saturday, February 26, 2022 and Sunday, February 27, 2022

Thank you to all donors, MOFF hikers, random SLO hikers, silent auction donors and winners, and social media giveaway participants and winners!

Traditional Hike: Over 50 MOFF associated hikers completed either Felsman Loop or Bishops Peak in SLO and brought roses either to the peak or to Martha’s memorial bench. The MOFF team was present at the trailhead from 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM PT on Saturday and Sunday. Many people who were initially unfamiliar with MOFF also opted to take a rose with them on their hike to help us raise awareness of ALS. It was a beautiful weekend to do so!

Virtual Hike: Over 60 Instagram/Facebook users tagged @moff.cureals and hashtagged #cureals #nevergiveup in their hiking stories! It was a tough competition, but in the end, Nancy Walter and Courtney Crawford won the social media giveaway! Thank you to all of our virtual participants for raising awareness in your communities! MOFF supporters hiked in NY, CA, AZ, TX, HI, MX and the UK! Visit the MOFF instagram and view these stories in our highlights section.

Other Ways to Participate

Silent Auction: Congratulations to our Silent Auction winners! Participants were represented in 5 different states!

Donate: Together we raised over $15,000 to support MOFF’s ALS Patient Care and Research Programs! Way to go!

Why We Hike

This event honors the life of Martha Olson-Fernandez and every other individual who can no longer hike due to the effects of a neurodegenerative disease. Martha was a well-known SLO community member and an avid hiker when she was diagnosed with ALS in 2011. Her memory lives on through this MOFF community and her family and friends. It is through Hike x Brunch event that we are able to reflect on the lives of the incredible individuals the SLO community has lost to ALS and send strength to those who are living with the disease today.

Thank you to the SLO families that have participated in the MOFF Hike x Brunch since the 1st Annual in 2015 and to all of you who have joined us along the way!!

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MOFF is constantly working to raise ALS awareness in the San Luis Obispo (SLO) community. If you live in the SLO community and are interested in this initiative, please reach out to us via our “Get Involved” page.

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Thank you to all those who helped us raise $1,825.00! Your generosity during this time of COVID-19 is what keeps the ALS patient care community going. 

In case you missed it, the MOFF team this year  walked for people living with ALS, the families of those who passed away from ALS, and we walked in memory of Katcho Achadjian.

Because ALS is fatal, our community is no stranger to loss and each year we invite more angels into our midst. This year, the MOFF team was dedicated to one of our SLO community leaders, Katcho Achadjian. He did not die from ALS, but his support of the ALS community was heartfelt and strong. We know he and Martha are getting into trouble wherever they may be 🙂 TO KATCHO! TO MARTHA! TO EACH OF US LIVING EACH DAY TO THE FULLEST. Stay strong.

Please view the MOFF Virtual ALS Walk Team video below. Check it out:

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The Martha Olson Fernandez Foundation has participated in ALS Association Walks to Defeat ALS in San Luis Obispo, New York City, East Bay, and Sacramento and since 2012. For those of you that remember, in 2012 the Martha Olson-Fernandez Foundation participated in the SLO Walk to Defeat ALS with Martha under the team name of Martha’s Footprints. So much wonderful love and support was brought to that walk.

In 2018, the Martha Olson-Fernandez Foundation was nominated to be the recipient of the Community Champion Award. This award was presented to Larry Fernandez at the SLO Walk to Defeat ALS on April 21, 2018. Over the years, MOFF has contributed over 125,000.00 to The ALS Association. MOFF is proud to continue to support ALS families on the Central Coast and appreciates the ALSA care managers for allowing us to do so.

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