HR1114LRB098 21346 GRL 59626 r


  
1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) is a 
3devastating progressive neurodegenerative disease which 
4destroys the ability to walk, speak, eat, and breathe; ALS is 
5sometimes referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, named after Lou 
6Gehrig, a famous baseball first basemen, whose career was 
7stopped in 1939 when he developed ALS at the age of 36; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, ALS affects the body by attacking nerve cells of 
9the brain and spinal cord; typical symptoms of ALS include the 
10inability to walk, speak, eat, and even breathe; paralysis can 
11also develop; after the onset of this disease, fatality usually 
12occurs within 2 to 5 years; and
  
 
13    WHEREAS, Every day, an average of 15 people are newly 
14diagnosed with ALS - more than 5,600 people per year; as many 
15as 30,000 Americans may currently be affected by ALS; annually, 
16ALS is responsible for two deaths per 100,000 people; ALS 
17typically affects people over the age of 40, including those 
18who previously enjoyed excellent health in the prime of their 
19lives; ALS is indiscriminate in the types of people who will be 
20affected by it; and
  
 
21    WHEREAS, At present, there is no known treatment or cure 
22for ALS; if a cure or greater understanding of ALS is achieved, 
 
 
HR1114- 2 -LRB098 21346 GRL 59626 r

1then it is likely that this will benefit research into related 
2conditions like Parkinson's, Huntington's, and Alzheimer's 
3disease; and

  
 
4    WHEREAS, Established in 2008, 'ALS Across America' aims to 
5raise awareness about ALS by sharing with the media and public 
6the experiences that people throughout the United States have 
7with ALS; therefore, be it
  
 
8    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
9NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
10we designate the month of May 2014 as ALS Awareness Month in 
11the State of Illinois; and be it further
  
 
12    RESOLVED, That we urge the citizens of the State of 
13Illinois to become more aware of the plight of people with this 
14serious disease, support those with this condition, and help to 
15further research into finding a cure.