SR0986 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0986 LRB103 40606 MST 73245 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), known by many as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive fatal neurodegenerative disease in which a person's brain loses connection with the muscles, slowly taking away their ability to walk, talk, eat, and eventually breathe; and

WHEREAS, ALS has no cure, and every 90 minutes, someone is diagnosed with ALS and someone passes away from ALS; on average, patients diagnosed with ALS only survive two to five years from the time of diagnosis; and

WHEREAS, People who have served in the military are more likely to develop ALS and die from the disease than those with no history of military service; and

WHEREAS, Securing access to new therapies, durable medical equipment, and communication technologies is of vital importance to people living with ALS; and

WHEREAS, Clinical trials play a pivotal role in evaluating new treatments, enhancing quality of life, and fostering assistive technologies for those living with ALS; and

WHEREAS, This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Ice Bucket Challenge, and it is fitting to make a renewed commitment to galvanize public awareness and support funding leading to significant investments in ALS research; and

WHEREAS, The ALS Association, as the largest philanthropic funder of ALS research globally, has committed over $154 million to support more than 550 projects across the United States and 18 other countries; and

WHEREAS, The ALS community and researchers remain unwaveringly committed to accelerating the pace of discovery, fueled by the hope that one day ALS will be a livable disease for everyone, everywhere; and

WHEREAS, Observing ALS Awareness Month increases the public's awareness of the dire circumstances faced by people living with ALS, acknowledges the terrible impact this disease has, not only on the person but on his or her family and the community, and recognizes the research being done to eradicate this disease; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare May 2024 as ALS Awareness Month and urge all Americans to join in supporting ALS research, advocating for increased funding, and standing in solidarity with those affected by this relentless disease.