There were hundreds of people around her, but for 11-year-old Olivia Gallagher, Saturday’s Walk to End ALS was about who wasn’t there.

Last month, after a six-year fight, ALS took her dad Steven . This year was the first time she did the five-kilometre walk in St. Catharines without him — either by her side or waiting at home.

Gallagher, a former journalist and spokesperson for Niagara Health, embraced his role as an “ALS warrior” shortly after his diagnosis in 2019. His daughter was with him throughout.

He died in his sleep May 21. For his final Facebook post the night before, he urged people to support his daughter for the ALS Walk.

A group called Stepping Up for Steve ended up raising the most money for the event with more than $19,000, including nearly $12,000 just from Olivia.

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