ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Progress
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The ALS Association Golden West Chapter Raises
Awareness About Military Connection America’s brave men and women in uniform are more likely to be diagnosed with ALS than any other segment of the U.S. population May 22, 2013 — The ALS Association Golden West Chapter joins the nation this Memorial Day to remember all of the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military, and to honor all of our nation’s veterans who have fought or are now fighting ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). While there is no known cause or cure for ALS, the disease strikes military veterans more than twice as often as people in the general population. During May, ALS Awareness Month, the Chapter is paying tribute to veterans like Army Sergeant Kay Thomas of Fremont, California, who served for her country from 1974-1977, only to wage a new battle against ALS – a battle that ultimately will take her life. Kay, and her husband Phil who is also a veteran, are featured in a new video entitled “The ALS Nation.” This poignant public awareness film also features personal testimonies from California State Senator Art Torres (Ret), Vice-Chair of the Governing Board, California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), and from Catherine Lomen-Hoerth, MD, PhD, Director of The ALS Treatment and Research Center at the University of California, San Francisco, as well as others who share their experiences with the disease and their commitment to find a cure. One of the challenges of living with ALS that Kay has found the most frustrating is how people treat individuals in wheelchairs. “When someone is confined to a wheelchair and has lost the ability to move or even to communicate, without meaning to, people will direct their questions to those around the person with ALS, instead of speaking to them directly,” Kay shared. “Don’t demean us further by not treating us as a person.” “Watching the woman I love deal with ALS is difficult,” said Army Reserve Major Phil Thomas (Ret). “Kay is a strong-willed, graceful, brave lady; nevertheless, it is difficult to watch her illness progress. I want her to feel she can always depend on me. It breaks my heart to realize this is something I can't fix, no matter what I do.” Currently, there is no cure for ALS, and only one drug has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that just modestly extends survival. The ALS Association Golden West Chapter is committed to helping all military veterans with ALS and assisting their family caregivers. That effort includes scientific research to find a cure for the disease and answers to why those who have served their country in uniform are at greater risk of dying from ALS, regardless of their branch of service, the location or year of combat and whether they served during times of peace or war. The Association and its thousands of advocates nationwide were proud to report that Congress recently passed legislation that included a 20 percent increase in funding for the Department of Defense’s ALS Research Program (ALSRP). The program will receive $7.5 million this year, bringing the total funding for the ALSRP to $40 million, all of which is focused on finding treatments for ALS. “Too many marines, soldiers, sailors and airmen are returning to a new battle on the home front that we still don’t fully understand,” said Fred Fisher, President and CEO of The ALS Association Golden West Chapter. “May is ALS Awareness Month, and it’s important that we continue to get the word out to veterans that they do not have to battle ALS alone,” said Fisher. “Awareness is important because many veterans and their spouses do not know they are eligible for essential disease-related benefits.” The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes ALS as a service-connected disease and provides both financial and medical support to those with at least 90 continuous days of active-duty military service. Veterans with specific questions concerning their VA benefits are encouraged to visit: http://www.alsa.org/als-care/veterans/faqs-new-veterans.html. “More than anything, continuing to give voice to our veterans with ALS—both past and present—is how everyone one of us can contribute to the fight against ALS,” said Fisher. |
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The ALS Association Golden West Chapter Raises
Awareness About Military Connection America’s brave men and women in uniform are more likely to be diagnosed with ALS than any other segment of the U.S. population May 22, 2013 — The ALS Association Golden West Chapter joins the nation this Memorial Day to remember all of the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military, and to honor all of our nation’s veterans who have fought or are now fighting ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). While there is no known cause or cure for ALS, the disease strikes military veterans more than twice as often as people in the general population. During May, ALS Awareness Month, the Chapter is paying tribute to veterans like Army Sergeant Kay Thomas of Fremont, California, who served for her country from 1974-1977, only to wage a new battle against ALS – a battle that ultimately will take her life. Kay, and her husband Phil who is also a veteran, are featured in a new video entitled “The ALS Nation.” This poignant public awareness film also features personal testimonies from California State Senator Art Torres (Ret), Vice-Chair of the Governing Board, California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), and from Catherine Lomen-Hoerth, MD, PhD, Director of The ALS Treatment and Research Center at the University of California, San Francisco, as well as others who share their experiences with the disease and their commitment to find a cure. One of the challenges of living with ALS that Kay has found the most frustrating is how people treat individuals in wheelchairs. “When someone is confined to a wheelchair and has lost the ability to move or even to communicate, without meaning to, people will direct their questions to those around the person with ALS, instead of speaking to them directly,” Kay shared. “Don’t demean us further by not treating us as a person.” “Watching the woman I love deal with ALS is difficult,” said Army Reserve Major Phil Thomas (Ret). “Kay is a strong-willed, graceful, brave lady; nevertheless, it is difficult to watch her illness progress. I want her to feel she can always depend on me. It breaks my heart to realize this is something I can't fix, no matter what I do.” Currently, there is no cure for ALS, and only one drug has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that just modestly extends survival. The ALS Association Golden West Chapter is committed to helping all military veterans with ALS and assisting their family caregivers. That effort includes scientific research to find a cure for the disease and answers to why those who have served their country in uniform are at greater risk of dying from ALS, regardless of their branch of service, the location or year of combat and whether they served during times of peace or war. The Association and its thousands of advocates nationwide were proud to report that Congress recently passed legislation that included a 20 percent increase in funding for the Department of Defense’s ALS Research Program (ALSRP). The program will receive $7.5 million this year, bringing the total funding for the ALSRP to $40 million, all of which is focused on finding treatments for ALS. “Too many marines, soldiers, sailors and airmen are returning to a new battle on the home front that we still don’t fully understand,” said Fred Fisher, President and CEO of The ALS Association Golden West Chapter. “May is ALS Awareness Month, and it’s important that we continue to get the word out to veterans that they do not have to battle ALS alone,” said Fisher. “Awareness is important because many veterans and their spouses do not know they are eligible for essential disease-related benefits.” The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes ALS as a service-connected disease and provides both financial and medical support to those with at least 90 continuous days of active-duty military service. Veterans with specific questions concerning their VA benefits are encouraged to visit: http://www.alsa.org/als-care/veterans/faqs-new-veterans.html. “More than anything, continuing to give voice to our veterans with ALS—both past and present—is how everyone one of us can contribute to the fight against ALS,” said Fisher. |
