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<p>HUGHESTOWN &#8212; More than 100 attendees enjoyed dinner, fun activities and camaraderie on Saturday for the sixth annual PALS of Jimmy Duffy Fundraiser, helping to raise awareness of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).</p><p>The event is a way to give support and generate funds for researching ways to defeat the disease, said Florence Duffy, Jimmy Duffy&#8217;s widow.</p><p>Also known as Lou Gehrig&#8217;s disease, ALS affects 12,000 people in the United States, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders.</p><p>The event has grown in its six years, raising as much as $5,000 last year, said Florence Duffy.</p><p>This year&#8217;s attendance was the largest, she added. The money raised goes to the ALS Association of Greater Philadelphia.</p><p>&#8220;If we could help somebody else, that&#8217;s why we do it,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Every little bit helps.&#8221;</p><p>Duffy died two years after his diagnosis in 2007 at 67 and had some tough time while battling the disease, Florence said.</p><p>&#8220;I would tell anyone facing ALS to stay strong and take it one day at a time,&#8221; she said.</p><p>The party was held at the Hughestown Hose Company and included a full menu provided by Peculiar Culinary Company, basket raffles, homemade baked goods and many games for the children.</p><p>Most important, those gathered together enjoyed time with each other and provided support for those who may have similar situations in their lives, Duffy said.</p><p>The purpose is to have a good time, she added saying the event to her is &#8220;bittersweet.&#8221;</p><p>Miranda Philbin, who owns Peculiar Culinary with her husband Gene, said they were happy to help a &#8220;good cause&#8221; when they were approached about catering the event.</p><p>&#8220;We saw it as a way to give back to the community,&#8221; Philbin said.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Jay Duffy shares a laugh with a friend at the the sixth annual PALS of Jimmy Duffy Fundraiser in Hughestown Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_als2_faa.jpg</photo0><caption0>Jay Duffy shares a laugh with a friend at the the sixth annual PALS of Jimmy Duffy Fundraiser in Hughestown Saturday. </caption0><photoCredit0>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_als1_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Florence Duffy, wife of the late Jimmy Duffy, sets out a fruit tray with the help of Rosie Fascians the sixth annual PALS of Jimmy Duffy Fundraiser in Hughestown Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_als1_faa.jpg</photo1><caption1>Florence Duffy, wife of the late Jimmy Duffy, sets out a fruit tray with the help of Rosie Fascians the sixth annual PALS of Jimmy Duffy Fundraiser in Hughestown Saturday. </caption1><photoCredit1>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Ralph Nardone</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>The Times Leader newsroom may be reached at 570-829-7242 or on Twitter @TLnews.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Event raises funds, awareness of ALS