HR1114 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1114 LRB098 21346 GRL 59626 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) is a devastating progressive neurodegenerative disease which destroys the ability to walk, speak, eat, and breathe; ALS is sometimes referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, named after Lou Gehrig, a famous baseball first basemen, whose career was stopped in 1939 when he developed ALS at the age of 36; and

WHEREAS, ALS affects the body by attacking nerve cells of the brain and spinal cord; typical symptoms of ALS include the inability to walk, speak, eat, and even breathe; paralysis can also develop; after the onset of this disease, fatality usually occurs within 2 to 5 years; and

WHEREAS, Every day, an average of 15 people are newly diagnosed with ALS - more than 5,600 people per year; as many as 30,000 Americans may currently be affected by ALS; annually, ALS is responsible for two deaths per 100,000 people; ALS typically affects people over the age of 40, including those who previously enjoyed excellent health in the prime of their lives; ALS is indiscriminate in the types of people who will be affected by it; and

WHEREAS, At present, there is no known treatment or cure for ALS; if a cure or greater understanding of ALS is achieved, then it is likely that this will benefit research into related conditions like Parkinson's, Huntington's, and Alzheimer's disease; and

WHEREAS, Established in 2008, 'ALS Across America' aims to raise awareness about ALS by sharing with the media and public the experiences that people throughout the United States have with ALS; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we designate the month of May 2014 as ALS Awareness Month in the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge the citizens of the State of Illinois to become more aware of the plight of people with this serious disease, support those with this condition, and help to further research into finding a cure.