| Based on U.S. population studies, a little over 5,600 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with ALS each year. (That's 15 new cases a day.) It is estimated that as many as 30,000 Americans have the disease at any given time. |
I am so moved by all of the Ice Bucket Challenges I see going viral on Facebook and I applaud you all for your involvement in moving forward the education of this horrible disease. You are hearing about this disease more and more and there is still not enough strides being made in research and education mainly due to funding. That is why this movement has been instrumental in capturing the nations attention and hopefully the world. The ALS.org Foundation estimates that as of today Ice Bucket Donations have reached $70.2 million. What an amazing testament to the caring nature of our nation.
I have an aunt who died from Lou Gehrig's Disease and her battle was not unlike the ones you hear being told all over the internet. Every family must feel some of the same feelings; how could this strike one of our own, someone we loved dearly and at a time when little was known about it. She slowly went from our beloved Aunt Peggy, to someone who was unable to care for herself and eventually breath on her own.
We just cannot let this continue to happen to more humans. As a race we have to stand up and find a way to eradicate this. As with all movements, you have your protesters against the education, such as the Catholic Church speaking out against the donations going towards the forms of testing needed involving stem cell research which goes against their stance on abortion.
There are even states warning against the Ice Bucket Challenge due to severe droughts in those affected states. An argument can be made for both of the above scenarios, but what do you say to the person who has just found out they have ALS? Do you tell them their life isn't important enough, not profitable enough, too controversial to fight for a cure to save their life? I for one will not tell them that. I have watched this horrific disease rip the life from one of our family members and the devastation left after she was gone. I will take the challenge and I will donate the money.
As a nation we have spent billions upon billions of tax payer's money on issues that had nothing to do with us. Don't let anyone tell you that you shouldn't stand up and fight for the people you love or the people who need your voice. Everyone's life is precious and it should not be left up to religious leaders or federal governments to dictate if we will work towards finding a cure for these rare and deadly diseases. Stand up with the rest of America and let you voices (and screams from the ice cold water) be heard around the world.
Have a Peaceful Night!
Johnny Bryan Ward
I have an aunt who died from Lou Gehrig's Disease and her battle was not unlike the ones you hear being told all over the internet. Every family must feel some of the same feelings; how could this strike one of our own, someone we loved dearly and at a time when little was known about it. She slowly went from our beloved Aunt Peggy, to someone who was unable to care for herself and eventually breath on her own.
We just cannot let this continue to happen to more humans. As a race we have to stand up and find a way to eradicate this. As with all movements, you have your protesters against the education, such as the Catholic Church speaking out against the donations going towards the forms of testing needed involving stem cell research which goes against their stance on abortion.
There are even states warning against the Ice Bucket Challenge due to severe droughts in those affected states. An argument can be made for both of the above scenarios, but what do you say to the person who has just found out they have ALS? Do you tell them their life isn't important enough, not profitable enough, too controversial to fight for a cure to save their life? I for one will not tell them that. I have watched this horrific disease rip the life from one of our family members and the devastation left after she was gone. I will take the challenge and I will donate the money.
As a nation we have spent billions upon billions of tax payer's money on issues that had nothing to do with us. Don't let anyone tell you that you shouldn't stand up and fight for the people you love or the people who need your voice. Everyone's life is precious and it should not be left up to religious leaders or federal governments to dictate if we will work towards finding a cure for these rare and deadly diseases. Stand up with the rest of America and let you voices (and screams from the ice cold water) be heard around the world.
Have a Peaceful Night!
Johnny Bryan Ward