A senate RESOLUTION

 

TO RECOGNIZE may 2025 AS "als awareness month" IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

 

Whereas, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also commonly known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive fatal neurodegenerative disease in which a person's brain loses connection with their muscles, slowly reducing a person's ability to walk, talk, eat, and eventually breathe; and

 

Whereas, thousands of new amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) cases are reported every year, and estimates show that every ninety minutes someone is diagnosed with ALS and someone passes away from the disease; and

 

Whereas, on average, patients diagnosed with ALS survive only two to five years from the time of diagnosis; and

 

Whereas, the exact causes of ALS are unknown and there is no known cure for ALS; and

 

Whereas, people who have served in the military are more likely to develop ALS and die from the disease than those with no history of military service; and

 

Whereas, securing access to new therapies, durable medical equipment, and communication technologies is of vital importance to people living with ALS; and

 

Whereas, clinical trials play a pivotal role in evaluating new treatments, enhancing quality of life, and fostering assistive technologies for those living with ALS; and

 

Whereas, the ALS Association is the largest philanthropic funder of ALS research globally and has committed more than one hundred fifty million dollars to support more than five hundred fifty projects across the United States and eighteen other countries; and

 

Whereas, the ALS Association is committed to accelerating the pace of discovery, fueled by the hope that one day ALS will be a livable disease for everyone, everywhere, until a cure can be found; and

 

Whereas, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month provides an opportunity to increase public awareness of the dire circumstances of people living with ALS, acknowledge the terrible impact this disease has on those individuals and their families, and support research to eradicate this disease; and

 

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate join the ALS Association in supporting ALS research, advocating for increased funding, and standing in solidarity with those affected by this relentless disease.  Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the Senate:

 

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, recognize May 2025 as "ALS Awareness Month" in South Carolina.

----XX----