Proclaiming May 2026, to Be "ALS Awareness Month" in the State of Rhode Island

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, An estimated 30,000 individuals in the United States are afflicted with ALS at any given time, with approximately 5,600 people diagnosed each year, and over 352,000 people affected worldwide annually; and

WHEREAS, Approximately 15 new cases of ALS are diagnosed every day, and every minutes someone loses their battle with the disease; and

WHEREAS, On average, patients diagnosed with ALS survive only two to five years from the time of diagnosis; and

WHEREAS, ALS has no cure and can strike anyone regardless of race, sex, age, or ethnicity; 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, Persons who have served in the military are approximately twice as likely to develop ALS and die from the disease than those with no history of military service; and

WHEREAS, The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes ALS as a service- connected disease; and

WHEREAS, The ALS Association, as the largest philanthropic funder of ALS research globally, has committed over $162 million to support nearly 600 projects across the United States; and other countries. The Association's commitment to accelerating the pace of discovery remains unwavering, fueled by the hope that one day ALS will be a livable disease for everyone, everywhere, until a cure can be found; and

WHEREAS, The purpose of ALS Awareness Month is to raise public awareness about ALS, show support for those affected by this relentless disease, and give recognition to those working to find a cure; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby proclaims May 2026, to be "ALS Awareness Month." We furthermore urge all the citizens of the State to educate themselves about 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 ALS United RI.