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Special recognition of May 2026 as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Awareness Month.
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SPECIAL RECOGNITION
WHEREAS, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a fatal neurodegenerative disease where a person's brain progressively loses connection with their muscles, slowly reducing a person's ability to move, speak, eat, and eventually breathe; and
WHEREAS, thousands of new ALS cases are reported every year, and estimates show that every 90 minutes someone is diagnosed and someone passes away from ALS; and
WHEREAS, on average, patients with ALS only live two to five years from the time of diagnosis; and
WHEREAS, the exact causes of ALS are unknown, with 90% of the cases having no known family history or genetic cause, and there is no known cure; and
WHEREAS, securing access to new therapies, durable medical equipment, and communication technologies is of vital importance for the quality of life of people living with ALS who spend an estimated $250,000 annually in out-of-pocket costs; and
WHEREAS, one of the pivotal paths in the fight to find a cure is clinical trials, which evaluate new treatments and foster assistive technologies for those living with ALS; and
WHEREAS, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month provides an opportunity to increase public awareness of the circumstances of people living with ALS, acknowledge the impact this disease has on those individuals and their families, and support research to eradicate this disease.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RECOGNIZED, by this County Board of Lake County, Illinois, that May 2026 is ALS Awareness Month and urges residents to join in supporting ALS research, advocating for increased funding, and standing in solidarity with those affected by this relentless disease.
DATED at Waukegan, Illinois, on April 14, 2026.