At the request of the Les Turner ALS Foundation, Gov. J.B. Pritzker has proclaimed May as ALS Awareness Month in the State of Illinois. The proclamation can be found below and downloaded at this link.
Throughout the month, we look forward to sharing personal stories from people living with ALS, resources to help families and caregivers, and opportunities to get engaged in the fight against ALS. Sign up for our newsletter, visit us on social media, and let’s get to work!
WHEREAS, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, leading to muscle weakness, paralysis, and, ultimately, respiratory failure, and,
WHEREAS, according to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are approximately 30,000 individuals living with ALS in the United States, including hundreds of individuals and families impacted in Illinois; and,
WHEREAS, according to ALS News Today, ALS can affect anyone regardless of racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic status with symptoms typically developing between the ages of 40 and 70; and,
WHEREAS, studies show that military veterans are 1.5-2 times more likely to develop ALS for unknown reasons, according to the National Library of Medicine of the National Institutes of Health, and,
WHEREAS, according to the Les Turner ALS Foundation, the average life expectancy of a person with ALS is about 3 to 5 years after diagnosis, and,
WHEREAS, there is currently no known cure for ALS, and,
WHEREAS, designating May as ALS Awareness Month provides an opportunity to educate the public about ALS, support individuals and families affected by the disease, and promote research efforts to find effective treatments and a cure,
THEREFORE, I, JB Pritzker, Governor of the State of Illinois, do hereby proclaim May 2025 as ALS Awareness Month in Illinois and encourage all residents to join in raising awareness, supporting those affected, and advocating for a future without ALS.
