What is ALS

ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a rapidly progressive and fatal neuromuscular disease. It attacks the nerve cells, especially those in the spinal cord, which control the voluntary muscles throughout the body. When these muscles fail to receive messages, they eventually lose strength, atrophy and die.

ALS results in complete paralysis and death, generally within three to five years of diagnosis. Imagine not being able to walk, smile, write, talk, eat or breathe, yet your mind and senses remain largely unaffected. Two to three Canadians a day die of ALS.

ALS Facts

• The average life expectancy after diagnosis is 3-5 years
• In at least 90% of the cases, it strikes people with no family history of the disease.
• ALS is a costly disease. Equipment costs average $137,000 per patient; nursing and home care costs are up to 10 times that amount.
• Although positive steps are being made in research, there is still no cure...yet

For more information on ALS please visit the links below.

• ALS Society of BC - www.alsbc.ca
• The ALS Society of Canada - www.als.ca
• ALSTDF - ALS Therapy Development Foundation - www.alstdf.com
• Project ALS - finding and funding treatments and a cure for ALS - www.projectals.org