Letter to the Editor

Supporting those with ALS

I am writing to encourage Missouri and Illinois residents to play an important role in advancing research for a cure for ALS, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease. ALS is a fatal disease that robs the body of voluntary muscle control until the simple act of breathing becomes impossible. This devastating illness strikes without warning, and unfortunately there is no cure or treatment. It is estimated that as many as 30,000 Americans are courageously battling ALS.

The ALS Association leads the fight to treat and cure Lou Gehrig's disease.

We can make a remarkable difference with you as advocates helping to urge Missouri and Illinois Representatives to co-sponsor the MODDERN Cures Act (HR 3497) and urging our senators to continue $10 million in funding for ALS research program at the Department of Defense and $10 million for the National ALS Registry at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

The president signed into law The ALS Registry ACT in 2008, making this a top priority by allowing patients to do self-enrollment online and to collect data with the goal of identifying the causes and potentially finding a cure for this disease.

However, further funding is necessary. Please contact your senators and representatives through the ALS Association's Advocacy Action Center at www.alsa-stl.org. Working together, we can be victorious in fighting ALS. Let our leaders hear your voice and educate them about ALS and the toll it takes on the lives of their constituents.

Sincerely,

MAUREEN BARBER HILL, president and CEO, ALS Association-St. Louis Regional Chapter