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A reason for hope in finding a cure for ALS.

The ALSA Alabama Chapter is affiliated with the National ALS Association. Our chapter was formed in late 2004 to serve the North Alabama community in particular, but we welcome anyone from the surrounding areas who is interested in participating or supporting our organization. As the first ALSA-sanctioned organization in Alabama, we are initially serving 30 counties in north and central Alabama.

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Carol

"Meeting others with ALS has helped Mom get through this.  I told her the quote Kathy used from Dana Reeves ("I miss my former shallow life") and Eric saying ALS could take his body but not his mind and spirit.  Thanks for support you all may not even realize you are giving to our family."

Brad

"Please know how grateful I am at your visits & time taken....I am sure the immensity of the North Alabama territory can seem overwhelming a lot of the time.  For this reason, your time and heart to do so mean even more."

Carol

"Meeting others with ALS has helped Mom get through this.  I told her the quote Kathy used from Dana Reeves ("I miss my former shallow life") and Eric saying ALS could take his body but not his mind and spirit.  Thanks for support you all may not even realize you are giving to our family."

Brad

"Please know how grateful I am at your visits & time taken....I am sure the immensity of the North Alabama territory can seem overwhelming a lot of the time.  For this reason, your time and heart to do so mean even more."

What is ALS?

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as "Lou Gehrig's disease," is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually lead to their death. When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, patients in the later stages of the disease may become totally paralyzed. Yet, through it all, for the vast majority of people, their minds remain unaffected.
A-myo-trophic comes from the Greek language. "A" means no or negative. "Myo" refers to muscle, and "Trophic" means nourishment---"No muscle nourishment." When a muscle has no nourishment, it "atrophies" or wastes away. "Lateral" identifies the areas in a person's spinal cord where portions of the nerve cells that signal and control the muscles are located. As this area degenerates it leads to scarring or hardening ("sclerosis") in the region.
As motor neurons degenerate, they can no longer send impulses to the muscle fibers that normally result in muscle movement. Early symptoms of ALS often include increasing muscle weakness, especially involving the arms and legs, speech, swallowing or breathing. When muscles no longer receive the messages from the motor neurons that they require to function, the muscles begin to atrophy (become smaller). Limbs begin to look "thinner" as muscle tissue atrophies.

The Walk to D'Feet ALS

The Walk to D'Feet ALS is ALSA's flagship event for fund-raising and ALS Awareness. Over 150 Walks are held annually, raising over $10 million for ALS research and funding local patient services programs. In Alabama, we have grown from one Walk in Huntsville in 2005, to two Walks in 2006 (Huntsville and Birmingham).

In 2007, we are planning three Walks as our service area and number of patients served continues to grow rapidly. Please plan to join us this year at the Walk nearest you!

Help Make a Difference

You can help make a difference for local ALS patients and their families!

Please help us help local ALS patients and their families by providing financial support. All donations made directly to our chapter stay right here in Alabama to help patients in our area.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION