I was nominated by my sister Caitlin Dignan to complete the #icebucketchallenge to #strikeoutALS and to help increase donations and awareness of the disease. Heres some info that I learned about ALS: ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), otherwise known as Lou Gehrigs Disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The disease is either inherited or can happen randomly. With ALS, these motor neurons degenerate, or weaken, over time and eventually die. When the motor neurons die, the brain is no longer able to initiate and control muscle movements. As the disease progresses, those affected begin to lose voluntary muscle action and eventually become totally paralyzed. There is currently no cure for this disease, but there are some medications that can slow down the progression and there are therapies available that can help those affected live as independently as possible. The purpose of this ice bucket challenge is not just to raise awareness for this disease but also to raise money for funding and research. You can learn more about ALS by going to alsa.org, and please remember to go to the website provided below to donate! petefrates/contribute.html I nominate Elisha Melkonian, Erica Bader, Corynne Dignan, and Laura Greene next! You have 24 hours to complete this challenge, to donate, and dont forget to also add some information about the disease as well to spread the awareness!
Posted on: Thu, 07 Aug 2014 18:30:56 +0000