Gov. J.B. Pritzker has proclaimed May as ALS Awareness Month in the State of Illinois, recognizing the care and support that the Les Turner ALS Foundation provides for people living with ALS and their families. The full proclamation can be downloaded as a PDF or read below.
ALS Awareness Month is a terrific occasion to raise awareness of ALS and share your commitment to ALS care and research with people you know. All month, we’ll be sharing materials that you can use on social media and highlighting people doing amazing work in the community.
STATE OF ILLINOIS
PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, according to The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke’s Strategic Plan, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a disease that weakens the muscles used to move, swallow, and breathe, and the estimated survival is three to five years after the onset of symptoms; and,
WHEREAS, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention ‘s National ALS Registry, an estimated 32,000 people are living with ALS in the United States, with 5,000-6,000 people diagnosed annually; and,
WHEREAS, according to an article titled “Prospective study of military service and mortality from ALS”, ALS affects people in all communities, but US. military veterans are twice as likely to develop ALS compared to non-veterans; and,
WHEREAS, the Les Turner ALS Foundation, founded in Skokie, Illinois, strives to provide the most comprehensive care and support to people living with ALS and their families so they can confidently navigate the disease and advance scientific research for the prevention, treatment, and cure of ALS; and,
WHEREAS, ALS Awareness Month is an opportunity to raise awareness and share information with your community about ALS;
THEREFORE, I, JB Pritzker, Governor of the State of Illinois, do hereby proclaim the month of May 2023 as ALS Awareness Month in the state of Illinois and hereby urge all residents to take note of this observance.
