January 2026 Foundation eNews - Les Turner ALS Foundation

Get Ready for the Hope Through Caring Gala

Amidst the winter cold, there are signs of spring ahead. Don’t miss the Hope Through Caring Gala on Saturday, April 11 at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel in Chicago! This unforgettable evening brings together ALS researchers, care teams, business leaders, and families affected by ALS to celebrate progress and hope.

With live music and entertainment, this elegant, black-tie optional event is one of many people’s favorite nights of the year. We’ll honor Brian and Lori Andre with the Hope Through Caring Award for their outstanding advocacy on behalf of the ALS community; and we’ll present the Harvey and Bonny Gaffen Advancements in ALS Award to John M. Coleman III, MD, a distinguished pulmonary & critical care specialist at the Lois Insolia ALS Clinic.

Join us for an evening of celebration and community!

Targeting Key Proteins in Fight Against ALS

Scientists at the Les Turner ALS Center at Northwestern Medicine have zeroed in on a cellular gatekeeper that may hold promise for treating abnormal protein accumulation in neurodegenerative diseases.

“In all neurodegenerative diseases, there is an accumulation of misfolded proteins,” said Robert Kalb, MD. “We think that these misfolded proteins are a target for disease — the disease is actually driven by the accumulation of these misfolded proteins.”

In the current study, Kalb and his collaborators aimed to investigate the role of RAD23, a protein that is involved in the identification and disposal of damaged or misfolded proteins.

Click the link to read more.

Celebration of Life

In bereavement, we may feel the quiet weight of loss – because grief lives where love once stood. The Celebration of Life is a memorial wall dedicated to honoring those we have lost to ALS.

Whether it’s a memory, a story, or something special you want them to be remembered for, your words help keep their spirit alive. The Celebration of Life is an ongoing collection of reflections and celebrations, showing that even in the face of ALS, lives can be lived fully and meaningfully.

To contribute, simply complete the form and upload a photo. Your tribute will be added to the wall and can be shared with friends and family.

Click the link to share a memory of someone you loved.

Join us for our February ALS Learning Series webinar. This session will explore hospice care and how it can support people living with ALS and their loved ones throughout the disease journey.

We’ll discuss what hospice care is, when it may be appropriate, and how it can improve comfort, quality of life, and emotional well-being. We’ll also address common myths about hospice and share guidance on starting these important conversations. Time will be reserved for questions.

Our speaker, Katie Lord, RN, BSN, is the Education Coordinator at the Illinois Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (ILHPCO). Katie is a seasoned hospice nurse and educator with extensive experience across end-of-life care, including roles in case management, admissions, inpatient care, and hospice leadership. In her current role, she develops and delivers educational programs to strengthen the quality and accessibility of hospice care across Illinois.

This webinar is offered at no cost to the ALS community. Thank you to the Gilbert & Jacqueline Fern Foundation and Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America for sponsoring this webinar.

Register now.

Guide Spotlight: ALS & Activities of Daily Living

Living with ALS can bring changes to everyday routines, and it’s natural to have questions about how daily life may evolve over time. Our ALS & Activities of Daily Living guide is designed to support you with practical information and thoughtful guidance—so you can focus on what matters most to you, today and in the future.

You’ll learn about tools, strategies, and adaptive devices that can make daily activities easier, from eating and dressing to bathing, grooming, recreation, and sleep. The guide also shares energy-saving tips and ways to adjust routines to help you conserve strength and stay comfortable throughout the day.

The guide walks you through options at your own pace, recognizing that everyone’s experience with ALS is different and that you may not need every resource right away. It’s meant to help you prepare, not overwhelm—so you can explore the sections that fit your current needs and return to others when the time is right.

You’ll also find guidance on how occupational and physical therapists can support your daily independence, along with real-world insights from others living with ALS.

Read the guide at the link below, available in both English and Spanish.

In Our Thoughts

We offer our sincere condolences to all those who have lost a loved one to ALS. Today, and every day, we honor and remember them.

Peter Rouser

We invite you to share a tribute—whether a story, memory, or photo— to our Celebration of Life memorial wall, keeping the legacy of your loved one alive and reminding others they are never forgotten.

Support ALS Care and Research

The Les Turner ALS Foundation exists to care for those affected by the disease, answer their questions, support them and their loved ones, and provide hope through scientific research at the Les Turner ALS Center at Northwestern Medicine.

Please make a gift so we can continue to deliver that care and support. Together, we will create a world free of ALS.