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8-year-old with juvenile ALS becomes an 'Officer For A Day' in Grand Rapids

The Grand Rapids Police Department surprised Kennedy on Saturday before Nana's Run and made her an Officer For A Day.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The 6th annual Nana's Run was held Saturday morning in downtown Grand Rapids. The 5K raises raises awareness and funds for ALS research and treatment. 

At this year's event, a dream came true for 8-year-old Kennedy Arney. 

Kennedy is the youngest person ever to be diagnosed ALS by the National Institutes of Health. 

She has wanted to be a police officer since watching the 2016 hit film "Zootopia." At last year's run, she also got the chance to meet Scott Bylsma, a former Grand Rapids Police officer who had ALS. 

The Grand Rapids Police Department surprised Kennedy on Saturday before the run and made her an Officer For A Day. Kennedy was also made an honorary officer with the Three Oaks Police Department last summer

RELATED: Grand Rapids Police to pay tribute to former officer who died from ALS

Officers from GRPD participated in the run as a way to honor and pay tribute to Scott Byslma, who died from ALS at the beginning of April. 

More than 1,500 people participated in this year's Nana's Run. Since the event started in 2014, it has raised more than $1.8 million in support of clinical care, research and programs that help ALS patients access care close to home. 

ALS is neurodegenerative disease that has no known cure. 

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