May 2026 Foundation eNews - Les Turner ALS Foundation

Voices and visions for ALS Awareness Month

This May, we’re highlighting the profound realities of the disease to foster deeper understanding and drive meaningful change. Throughout the month, we’re focusing on the significant financial impact, the complex diagnostic journey, the daily lives of those living with the disease and their caregivers, and how you can take action. These themes illustrate the urgent need for the individualized care and comprehensive support we provide as a leader in ALS care.

We invite you to witness these experiences firsthand through our social media channels. We’re sharing videos featuring people living with ALS and dedicated caregivers who courageously share their daily routines and challenges. By watching and sharing these stories, you help amplify a valuable voice and provide reassurance and comfort to our local community.

Take action today by clicking the link and sharing our content. You can help raise vital awareness and encourage others to join our mission.

Join us Thursday, May 28, at 12 p.m. CT for our next ALS Learning Series webinar: Finding Your People. This community-led discussion focuses on personal stories of finding one another and discovering strength through connection after an ALS diagnosis.

Our panel features Rob Akins, Tina Cascio, Juan Reyes, and Kelly McGinn, who all provide vital perspectives as people living with ALS. Whether you are seeking local support or national advocacy groups, this session provides the supportive insights needed for every phase of the journey. Following the discussion, we invite you to participate in a live Q&A session with our speakers.

We thank our sponsors, the Gilbert and Jacqueline Fern Foundation and Tanabe Pharma America, for their commitment to providing accessible education at no cost.

Please register now at the link.

Our Lou Gehrig Day games are always a home run!

This summer, join our local community at the ballpark to honor Lou Gehrig and support those living with the disease.

Chicago White Sox vs. Detroit Tigers

Sunday, May 31, 1:10 p.m.

Tailgate: 11:00 a.m., Lot E. Join us to connect and hang out before the game!

Chicago Cubs vs. Athletics

Tuesday, June 2, 7:00 p.m.

Purchase tickets through our links to be seated in our section and provide for als care, advocacy, and research. Get your tickets now!

Guide Spotlight: ALS & Home Modifications

Maintaining independence and safety at home is a priority for people living with ALS as their mobility needs change over time. Our guide details how home modifications—ranging from simple accessibility adjustments to more significant structural changes—can help you navigate your environment more easily. By planning ahead, you can ensure your living space remains a source of comfort and security.

This resource is a vital tool for those seeking practical solutions for daily living, including bathroom safety, ramp installations, and doorway widening. We’ll help you prioritize these changes, ensuring you feel confident in your home environment with technical advice and referrals to proven vendors.

Read the ALS & Home Modifications guide here, available in both English and Spanish.

ICYMI: Looking at bridges between neurons for clues to ALS

Our Les Turner ALS Center at Northwestern Medicine is exploring a pioneering frontier in research to find a cure. Scientist Yvette Wong is utilizing super-resolution microscopy to study tunneling nanotubes (TNTs)—tiny bridges connecting neurons that shuttle vital molecules and proteins.

While TNTs are known to be important in other neurological conditions, their specific role in ALS remains a compelling new question. Supported by funding from the Les Turner ALS Foundation, Wong’s team is investigating whether these bridges regulate TDP-43, a hallmark protein in the majority of ALS cases. Understanding if these bridges become dysfunctional could reveal how pathology spreads through the brain and lead to life-enhancing treatments.

Read the full article by clicking the link.

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.

Jeff Kordich
Patrice Piernas
Barbara Reiner
Renee Zymali

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.