NEWINGTON - For the second year since former Newington Mayor and Connecticut State Representative Dom Mazzoccoli was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, (ALS) will �"Run for Dom” in a 5K that starts outside the Mortensen Community Center.

       All proceeds from the event, which begins Saturday, Sept. 20, at 9 a.m. with preregistration opening at 7:30 a.m., will go toward the Cambridge, Mass.-based ALS Therapy Institute, which conducts research into developing relief and a cure for the condition.

       â€�"The annual Run for Dom event honors Mazzoccoli for selflessly dedicating his life to his family, country, and community,” ALS Therapy Institute Public Relations Manager Mari Cody wrote in a press release. â€�"He asks others to give back by participating in the 5K to raise funds to find a cure for this devastating disease.”

       Known most commonly as â€�"Lou Gehrig’s Disease,” ALS is characterized by the degeneration of motor neurons, causing a loss of muscle movement control, paralysis, and eventually death. Once an avid runner, Mazzoccoli became bed-ridden shortly after he was diagnosed with the condition in June of 2011.

       Last year was the first Run for Dom ALS benefit event held, and it raised more than $10,000, according to Cody.

       â€�"The hope is that even more will be raised this year,” she wrote.

       Those interested in participating can register online at www.runfordom.org .