What is ALS?
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. It is a progressive neuromuscular disease that slowly robs the body of its ability to walk, speak, swallow and breathe. It can strike anyone.
The life expectancy of a person with ALS averages 2 to 5 years from the time of diagnosis. Only a tiny percentage of people with the disease live with ALS as long as Ismail has – more than 30 years.
According to the ALS Association, every 90 minutes a person in the United States is diagnosed with ALS, and every 90 minutes another person will lose their battle against the disease.
There is no known cause and no cure.
75th Anniversary of Lou Gehrig’s Famous Speech:
The famous baseball star Lou Gehrig was diagnosed with ALS in 1939. He died two years later in 1941 at the age of 37.
In honor of the 75th Anniversary of Lou Gehrig’s famous speech announcing his retirement from baseball, the ALS Association made baseball cards with the pictures and stories of many people with ALS and gave them to members of Congress, asking for Congress’ support for funding of research and bills important to people with ALS. A photo of Ismail’s baseball card is above.
You can help
- Help us increase ALS awareness by telling your family and friends about the disease and encouraging them to share the information with others
- Click on one of the links below to make a donation or to join Ismail’s team for one of the Walk To Defeat ALS events in October.
Ventura/Santa Barbara County Walk – October 5, 2014
http://webgw.alsa.org/site/TR/Walks/GoldenWest/205833976?pg=team&fr_id=10145&team_id=280373
Los Angeles County Walk – October 19, 2014
http://web.alsa.org/site/TR/Walks/GoldenWest?team_id=280363&pg=team&fr_id=10142
More Information
Click here to read Lou Gehrig’s famous speech:
http://www.alsa.org/about-als/aam-2014/learn-about-als/lou-gehrigs-speech.html
Click here to read more facts about Lou Gehrig and ALS:
http://www.alsa.org/about-als/aam-2014/learn-about-als/facts-about-lou-gehrig.html