Caregiver Only Support Group
2023-03-18 10:00 - 11:00, 2023-02-18 10:00 - 11:00, 2023-01-21 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Chicago)
The Caregivers Only group offers a time to talk about all the issues caregivers face in a non-judgmental, accepting atmosphere without their loved one, who is living with ALS, being present. Caregivers share a common experience; life has become so tumultuous that they often feel exhausted and overwhelmed, hungry for emotional comfort. Together, with the guidance and encouragement of a devoted facilitator, caregivers can find the strength to persevere. And, by feeling heard and understood, caregivers become more equipped to face another day with new coping strategies.
Time: Meets the Third Saturday of each month from 10 am to 11 am
Facilitator: Anne Lidsky, PhD
RSVP: Please RSVP here.
*Meetings will be held over Zoom and a Zoom invitation will be sent via email once you register for the group.*

Caregivers-Only Support Group
2023-03-16 15:00 - 16:00, 2023-02-16 15:00 - 16:00, 2023-01-19 15:00 - 16:00, 2022-12-15 15:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago)
The Caregivers Only group offers a time to talk about all the issues caregivers face in a non-judgmental, accepting atmosphere without their loved one, who is living with ALS, being present. Caregivers share a common experience; life has become so tumultuous that they often feel exhausted and overwhelmed, hungry for emotional comfort. Together, with the guidance and encouragement of a devoted facilitator, caregivers can find the strength to persevere. And, by feeling heard and understood, caregivers become more equipped to face another day with new coping strategies.
Time: Meets the Third Thursday of each month from 3pm to 4pm
Facilitator: Anne Lidsky, PhD
RSVP: Please RSVP here.
*Meetings will be held over Zoom and a Zoom invitation will be sent via email once you register for the group.*

Navigating ALS Together Support Group
2023-03-11 10:30 - 12:00, 2023-02-11 10:30 - 12:00, 2023-01-14 10:30 - 12:00 UTC
Meets the Second Saturday of each month from 10:30am – 12:00 pm
Facilitator(s): Karen Raley Steffens, RN, CHPN, CCM
RSVP: Please email us at supportgroup@lesturnerals.org to RSVP
*Meetings will be held over Zoom and a Zoom invitation will be sent via email once you register for the group.*

Moving Forward After Loss - Spousal/ Partner Bereavement Group
2023-03-02 18:00 - 19:30, 2023-02-23 18:00 - 19:30, 2023-02-16 18:00 - 19:30, 2023-02-09 18:00 - 19:30, 2023-02-02 18:00 - 19:30, 2023-01-26 18:00 - 19:30, 2023-01-19 18:00 - 19:30 (America/Chicago)
An open, supportive monthly bereavement group for spouses/partners who have lost a loved one to ALS within the past year. This group will provide a place to connect with others who have experienced the loss of a loved one to ALS; stories will be told, feelings will be explored, and information will be shared about how to remain connected to the memory of a loved one.
Date: Thursday
Time: Select Thursdays Through March 2nd 6pm – 7:30 pm
Facilitator(s): Easton Stevenson, LCSW

RSVP: Please RSVP here.
*Meetings will be held over Zoom and a Zoom invitation will be sent via email once you register for the group.*

Living After Loss (Bereavement Group)
2023-02-27 18:00 - 19:30, 2023-01-23 18:00 - 19:30 (America/Chicago)
An open, supportive monthly bereavement group for anyone (family, friend, etc.) who has lost a loved one to ALS within the past year. This group will provide a place to connect with others who have experienced the loss of a loved one to ALS; stories will be told, feelings will be explored, and information will be shared about how to remain connected to the memory of a loved one.
Date: Fourth Monday
Time: 6pm – 7:30pm
Facilitator(s): Easton Stevenson, LCSW

RSVP: Please RSVP here.
*Meetings will be held over Zoom and a Zoom invitation will be sent via email once you register for the group.*

Wheaton Support Group
2023-02-25 10:30 - 12:00, 2023-01-28 10:30 - 12:00 UTC
Meets the Fourth Saturday of each month from 10:30am-12:00pm
Facilitator(s): Rochelle Walwer, LCSW
RSVP: Click here to register
*Meetings will be held over Zoom and a Zoom invitation will be sent via email once you register for the group.*

Wheaton Support Group
2023-02-25 10:30 - 12:00, 2023-01-28 10:30 - 12:00, 2022-12-24 10:30 - 12:00 UTC | Marianjoy Rehab Center, 26 W 171 Roosevelt Road, Wheaton, IL, 60187, United States
*Meets the fourth Saturday of each month from 10:30am-12pm
Support group meetings are open to patients, family members, caregivers and friends. Each facility is wheelchair accessible and offers free parking. We request that you RSVP if you are planning to attend any of these meetings to assure there is availability. Alternatively, if no one responds, meetings will not be held.
Please contact Judy Richman at jrichman@lesturnerals.org or 847 679 3311 to RSVP, for more information on any support groups or meetings, or to be placed on our support group mailing list.
Facilitator(s): Ileane Mindel, RN and Elsa Cherwak, PT

February ALS Learning Series: ALS & Relationships, Sex and ,Intimacy
2023-02-23 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago)
Join us on Thursday, February 23, from noon-1 p.m.
About the Program
A person living with ALS may not feel comfortable addressing relationship, intimacy and sexual health changes that occur during their ALS journey with their healthcare providers. Although their ALS care team is always there to help, they may not feel fully equipped to assist them. The good news is that there are tips for managing their physical connection with their loved one through adaptations and open communication. Join us for our ALS Learning Series with Rachael Marsden, Nurse Consultant and Care Centre Coordinator for the Oxford MND Care & Research Centre in Oxford, United Kingdom. Rachael will provide guidance for people living with ALS and their ALS care teams to help start conversations and offer solutions for intimacy and sexual expression.
The Les Turner ALS Foundation is proud to offer this webinar at no cost to the ALS community. Thank you to the Gilbert & Jacqueline Fern Foundation and Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America for sponsoring this webinar.
About the Speaker

Rachael Marsden is a Nurse Consultant & Care Centre Coordinator for the Oxford MND Care and Research Centre in Oxford, United Kingdom. She provides a point-of-contact service for patients between clinic visits and facilitates the communication of information between all those locally involved in an individual patient’s care. She also provides emotional support for patients and their caregivers. In 2019, she was awarded the Allied Health Professional Award by the International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations recognizing her commitment to providing exceptional care to people with ALS/MND. She also serves as Co-Chair of the Allied Professional Forum through the International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations.
Rachael Marsden, RN
Nurse Consultant & Care Centre Coordinator
Oxford MND Care & Research Centre
Oxford, United Kingdom
Click here to register

Chicagoland Support Group
2023-02-21 14:00 - 15:30, 2023-01-17 13:00 - 14:30 UTC
Meets the Third Tuesday of each month from 1 – 2:30pm
Facilitator: Anne Lidsky, PhD
RSVP: Please email us at supportgroup@lesturnerals.org to RSVP
*Meetings will be held over Zoom and a Zoom invitation will be sent via email once you register for the group.*

35th Annual Hope Through Caring Gala
2023-02-18 18:00 - 23:00 (America/Chicago) | Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, 221 N Columbus Drive, Chicago, IL, 60601, United States
The Les Turner ALS Foundation will bring together Chicago’s top minds in ALS research and care, business, academics, philanthropy, and most importantly, people living with ALS, for one of the city’s most elegant and most prestigious black-tie optional events of the year. During this event, the Hope Through Caring Award and the Harvey and Bonny Gaffen Advancements in ALS Award will be presented to an outstanding organization and two individuals who have made a significant impact and difference in the ALS space and community.
The Hope Through Caring Award will be presented to First Bank Chicago. As one of the top five privately held banks in Chicagoland, First Bank Chicago has been focused on the community and meeting the needs of their neighbors for over 65 years.
The Harvey and Bonny Gaffen Advancements in ALS award will be presented to Brian Wallach and Sandra Abrevaya who have been among the driving forces behind many of the most important developments in ALS advocacy. Brian and Sandra played a major public role in demanding action from the FDA for approval of AMX0035 (Relyvrio). Brian helped write and secure sponsors for the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act, or ACT for ALS, which provides significant funding for ALS research and expanded access to promising investigational treatments for people living with ALS. President Biden signed the ACT for ALS into law on Dec. 23, 2021.
We hope that you will join us in honoring these amazing individuals and celebrating with the ALS community. If you are unable to attend, a virtual option will be available with a link to view the program.
Contact Kim Kempf for more information.

January ALS Learning Series: Why Your Participation in the National ALS Registry Matters
2023-01-19 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago)
About the Program
Join us for our January ALS Learning series with Dr. Paul Mehta to learn how the National ALS Registry helps advance research. Dr. Mehta will discuss how to join the National ALS Registry, what information they collect and why, and the type of research the registry is conducting. A Q&A session will follow the discussion.
ALS research depends on people living with ALS to join the National ALS Registry. Every individual’s story can contribute to our understanding of the disease, its causes, and how to fight it.
The Les Turner ALS Foundation is proud to offer this webinar at no cost to the ALS community. Thank you to Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America for sponsoring this webinar.
About the Speaker
Dr. Paul Mehta is the principal investigator for the U.S. Congressionally mandated National Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Registry which is part of the CDC. Since 2013, Dr. Mehta has been responsible for providing medical, scientific, and epidemiological expertise on matters related to ALS. Prior to joining the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), he was responsible for overseeing external research initiatives for the National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) and ATSDR. doctor of medicine (MD) from Fatima Medical Science Foundation and bachelor of arts in biology from the University of Toledo.
Register

Wheaton Support Group
2022-12-17 10:30 - 12:30 UTC
Please note: the date of this group has been changed to December 17, 2022.
Meets the Fourth Saturday of each month from 10:30am-12:30pm
Facilitator(s): Ileane Mindel, RN, Julie Stowell, RN, CHPN and Elsa Cherwak, PT
RSVP: Please email us at supportgroup@lesturnerals.org to RSVP
*Meetings will be held over Zoom and a Zoom invitation will be sent via email once you register for the group.*
