Each year, the ALS Association’s ALS Hero Awards recognize individuals in the ALS community who have made a significant impact. The ALS Association recently named Alecia Bailey of St. Augustine a 2026 ALS Hero.
The award recognizes recipients’ courage, strategic leadership and transformative impact in the fight against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Bailey was honored at the ALS Association’s annual ALS Nexus event.
The ALS Hero Award is the highest honor bestowed by the ALS Association, recognizing individuals who have made an extraordinary impact on the association and the broader ALS community. This prestigious distinction celebrates those whose dedication, advocacy and service have significantly advanced the fight against ALS, whether through fundraising, research support, caregiving, awareness efforts or community leadership.
For more than a decade, Bailey has turned personal loss into meaningful impact. Following her husband Keith’s death from ALS, she continued his commitment to raising awareness and supporting the fight against ALS, helping build the St. Augustine Walk to Defeat ALS into a thriving community movement that brings together hundreds of people affected by ALS and their supporters. Beyond fundraising, Bailey connects families with critical resources and equipment and has helped advance Florida’s Bitner Plante Initiative, working with legislators and community leaders to grow state funding for ALS. Through her leadership, advocacy and compassion, she continues to create tangible change for people and families living with ALS while honoring her husband’s legacy.
“Alecia embodies everything the ALS Heroes Award stands for,” said Melissa More, regional vice president of the ALS Association. “Her dedication has brought real hope and real support to families facing this disease. It's an honor to recognize them as we work toward a world without ALS.”
Learn how you can get involved in the fight against ALS at www.als.org.
