THE ANGEL FUND OBSERVES ALS AWARENESS MONTH |
May 08, 2010
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(Wakefield, MA) – The Angel Fund is among the many organizations throughout the country taking part in National ALS Awareness Month, a month-long observance in May that focuses public attention on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the neuromuscular disease that affects more than 30,000 American adults, with an additional 5,000 new cases diagnosed every year.
Often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease since baseball legend Lou Gehrig was diagnosed in 1939, ALS is a fatal disease that destroys the ability of the brain to communicate with the muscles. Today, more than sixty years after his diagnosis, someone in America is diagnosed with ALS every 90 minutes. There is not yet a cure for ALS. ALS can strike anyone at any age. Men and women are affected in nearly equal proportion. That’s why The Angel Fund is working so hard to find a cure for the disease which strikes healthy, fit adults in the prime of life. The 501 (c)(3) independent charity benefits ALS research at the Cecil B. Day Laboratory for Neuromuscular Research at the UMass Medical Center under the direction of Dr. Robert H. Brown, Jr., a world-renowned researcher in the field of ALS. “The Angel Fund is dedicated to raising money for research into a cause and cure for this disease,” Rich Kennedy, President of The Angel Fund said. “We’re at a critical point in ALS research. Significant strides have been made in just the past few years, and promising therapies are being investigated every day. We’re closer to a cure than ever before.” “Much progress has been made, but there is still work to be done,” he added. Like many of the supporters and friends of The Angel Fund, Rich has been personally affected by this disease. As such, he shares the organization’s commitment to finding a cure for ALS and getting the word out not only during ALS Awareness Month, but also throughout the year. “The Angel Fund has incredible support from patients, families, foundations and corporations,” he continued. “Fund raising events, along with individual and corporate donations in memory of, or in honor of, a loved one, friend or colleague have been beneficial in helping make these significant strides in ALS research.” During the next month, The Angel Fund will be gearing up for several upcoming events, including the Daly Family Comedy Night on May 19th, the Harpoon 5-Miler on June 5th, Jimmy Kennedy Memorial Run for ALS a/k/a the Squirrel Run XIII on June 12th, and the Sharon Timlin Memorial 5K and Family Fun Day on June 19th. All these events help raise money for Dr. Brown’s research at UMass Medical Center. For information about The Angel Fund, or for a complete schedule of events, visit the website at www.theangelfund.org. |