Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor:

The generosity of people in our community is nothing short of remarkable. Over the past few weeks, millions of dollars has been raised for The ALS Association through the social media movement called the "ice bucket challenge." ALS -- sometimes known as Lou Gehrig's disease, has never before experienced this level of visibility across the nation.

To the thousands of you who've been doused with ice water and donated to fight this devastating disease, how can we ever thank you enough?! Since our Chapter was founded 30 years ago, we have provided comprehensive services to almost 10,000 people with ALS and their families in eastern Missouri and central and southern Illinois. These services, all free of charge, are offered to provide physical relief but also emotional and financial relief for families fighting this disease.

ALS is a fatal, neurodegenerative disease that attacks nerve cells and pathways in the brain and spinal cord, and slowly robs the body of its ability to walk, speak, swallow and breathe, and every 90 minutes in this country, someone is diagnosed and another person dies from ALS.

Thanks to your generosity, we have never been in a better position to fuel our fight against this disease. We believe that in the not too distant future, we will look back on this time as the moment the course of this disease was changed forever.

Thank you for helping us to provide the best possible care for these families while we take every step possible to find a treatment and a cure!!!

Maureen Barber Hill

President/CEO

The ALS Association St. Louis Regional Chapter