R 297

2015 -- S 0932 Enacted 05/19/2015

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING THE MONTH OF MAY, 2015 TO BE "ALS ADVOCACY MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By: Senators Walaska, McCaffrey, Felag, Lynch, and Gallo

Date Introduced: May 19, 2015

WHEREAS, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), known by many as Lou Gehrig's

disease, is a progressive, fatal neurodegenerative disease that attacks nerve cells in the brain and

spinal cord, making even the simplest movements such as walking, speaking, and gesturing

nearly impossible; and

WHEREAS, An estimated 30,000 individuals in the United States are afflicted with ALS

at any given time, with a little over 5,600 new cases appearing in this country and over 450,000

people worldwide each year; and

WHEREAS, Approximately 15 new cases of ALS are diagnosed every day, and every 90

minutes someone loses their battle with the disease; and

WHEREAS, ALS can strike anyone regardless of race, sex, age, or ethnicity which is

why finding the cause of and cure for ALS will prevent the disease from taking more lives; and

WHEREAS, Aggressive treatments of the symptoms of ALS can extend the lives of those

living with the disease; and

WHEREAS, Raising public awareness of this disease will facilitate the discovery of a

cure and bring much needed support and services to families in Rhode Island and across the

nation who are dealing with ALS; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby proclaims the month of May, 2015 to be "ALS Advocacy Month." We furthermore urge

all the citizens of the state to educate themselves on ALS and to help combat this disease by all

means possible; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Rhode Island Chapter of the ALS

Foundation.

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LC002639

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