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Walk When You are Ready, Seek Resources Now you and your family would like to find out more informa-tion about the Walk to De-feat ALS, we invite you to call or email our offices. As always, if there is anything we can do assist you on your journey with ALS, please contact your Patient Services Coordinator anytime! This month you may notice a lot of information about our upcoming Walks to Defeat ALS. While these are excit-ing, wonderful days that can bring families together for the cause and inspire hope, we understand that not eve-ryone is ready to walk with us this year. There are times when the emotional or physi-cal burden of ALS can de-mand all of a family’s focus, and we understand. We want you to know that while we hope you’ll walk with us, participating in the Walk is in no way required to re-ceive assistance through our Patient Services Program. If
Citation preview
F igh t ing Lou Gehr ig ’ s Di sease i n Mi ch igan
Inside this issue:
Keo’s Back from Bot-
swana
Meet Robbi!
2
CaddyAm raises funds
for ALS
ALS Drug Candidate in
development
3
ALS Association An-
nounces New Research
Grants
4
Chapter Calendar
Wheelchair Van
Available
5
Head Trauma and ALS
Feeding Tube Care
6
7
Registered Teams Roster
Scientists find new ge-
netic component
8
9
Order your ALS Aware-
ness Wristbands!
10
Volume 1, Issue 6 Seotember 2010
Counting Down to The Walk to Defeat ALS
11 Days Until…Jackson • 11 Days Until…Traverse City 18 Days Until…Portage
25 Days Until…Detroit • 33 Days Until…Grand Rapids
The ALS Messenger
Detroit Walk to Defeat ALS Grand Rapids Walk to Defeat ALS
Saturday, September 25, 2010 Sunday, October 03, 2010
Detroit Riverfront Conservancy Ah-Nab-Awen Park
Traverse City Walk to Defeat ALS Jackson Walk to Defeat ALS
Saturday, September 11, 2010 Saturday, September 11, 2010
Civic Center Park Ella Sharp Park
Portage Walk to Defeat ALS Virtual Walk to Defeat ALS
Saturday, September 18, 2010 Anytime
Celery Flats Anywhere
Visit www.WalkToDefeatALS.org to register your team TODAY!
The 2010 Walk to Defeat ALS is here. Join us as thousands across the state Michigan Walk to Defeat ALS. The Walk to Defeat ALS is a day of HOPE, day of REMEMBERANCE, and a day to
raise money to help get us one step closer to finding a CURE for Lou Gehrigs Disease.
Last year over 150 Walk to Defeat ALS™ teams participated across the State of Michigan.
Please consider joining The ALS Association in 2010 as a walk team or as an individual walker.
Teams are already making a difference in their local communities by raising dollars for ALS in creative ways::
- $5 Jeans Days at Work - Bake Sales - Letter Writing Campaigns - Car Washes - Lemonade Stands - Facebook - Tennis Matches Let us know how our walk team can support you. Most importantly, spread the work about
why you are walking. Share with others the name and story of the individual you are working for.
Robbie Banfill • Grand Rapids, Portage,
Traverse City • [email protected] • 616-459-1900
Joe Kulwicki • Detroit, Jackson, Virtual • [email protected] • 866-927-CURE
Marie Tominna • Detroit • [email protected] • 866-927-CURE
The ALS Messenger Page 2
Meet Our Staff: Robbie Banfill, Special Events Coordinator
Troy Support Group Welcome Guest Moderator back from Botswana
can be found working in
her garden, volunteering
at her church or walking
her two boxer mixes.
Robbie is passionate
about helping our Michi-
gan PALS and has said
that since coming to
ALSA, she can ’ t imag-
ine leaving the non-profit
world.
Thank you Robbie for
your hard work and dedi-
cation to our PALS. We
are lucky to have you on
the team!
Robbie Banfill came to
the ALS Association,
Michigan Chapter a little
over two years ago after
spending time as a stay
at home mom to her son.
Working out of the Grand
Rapids office, Robbie is
our Special Events Coor-
dinator, overseeing many
events throughout the
year including the Grand
Rapids, Portage and
Traverse City Walks to
Defeat ALS, Rock and
Rumble Motorcycle Ride
for ALS, Caddy Jam
Benefit Concert,
CaddyAm Golf Tourna-
ment for ALS in addition
to helping virtual walkers
and lending a hand with
events on the east side of
the state.
Well loved by Chapter
staff for her technical
savvy, Robbie is con-
stantly in motion and
never without a smile.
When she ’ s not busy
planning an event or
helping the team, Robbie
Our Troy Support Group is happy to welcome Ms. Keolebogile Semphadile, an international doctoral student studying at
Oakland University, back from her summer in her native country of Botswana, Africa. Keo was kind enough to offer the
excellent and well-received ―Coping with A Loved One’s Illness‖ Seminar in the spring and has graciously agreed to re-
turn to the Michigan Chapter this fall as a guest moderator at our Troy Support Groups. Keo will address a new topic
related to coping and well-being each month throughout the fall.
Keo has over 20 years experience as a professional counselor and is currently pursing her PhD in Counseling with a spe-
cialty in Greif and Loss. She notes that while she hopes to teach our PALS and families more about stress, coping and
grief, that the experience of working with the chapter is helping her learn more about her own feelings these concepts. If
you would like to join us for one of Keo’s sessions, please let Kristen know you are able to attend so we can ensure we
have enough space to accomdate everyone. You can reach Kristen at 248-680-6540 or at [email protected].
“There are times
when the emotional
or physical burden of
ALS can demand all
of a family’s focus,
and we understand. “
Walk When You are Ready, Seek Resources Now
you and your family would
like to find out more informa-
tion about the Walk to De-
feat ALS, we invite you to
call or email our offices. As
always, if there is anything
we can do assist you on your
journey with ALS, please
contact your Patient Services
Coordinator anytime!
This month you may notice a
lot of information about our
upcoming Walks to Defeat
ALS. While these are excit-
ing, wonderful days that can
bring families together for
the cause and inspire hope,
we understand that not eve-
ryone is ready to walk with
us this year. There are times
when the emotional or physi-
cal burden of ALS can de-
mand all of a family’s focus,
and we understand. We
want you to know that while
we hope you’ll walk with us,
participating in the Walk is
in no way required to re-
ceive assistance through our
Patient Services Program. If
Robbie Banfill
Special Events Coordinator
Grand Rapids Office
Page 3 Volume 1, Issue 6
Benefits for Veterans with ALS
Military veterans diagnosed with ALS who have served at least 90 continuous days on active duty will be consid-
ered service connected for ALS. This is the case regardless of when or where a veteran served in the military and
regardless of the length of time between discharge from the military and a diagnosis of ALS.
If you are a military veteran with ALS, you may be eligible to receive significant health and disability benefits from
the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). That’s because on September 23, 2008, the Department of Veterans
Affairs established a presumption of service connection for ALS. This means that military veterans with ALS may
automatically be eligible for benefits that can include: monthly disability compensation, adaptive housing grants,
education assistance, and full health care to name a few. The ALS Association helped to lead the fight for this
policy and we now are working to ensure that every veteran with ALS can access these vital benefits as quickly
as possible.
Eligibility: In general, to qualify for benefits a veteran must have a diagnosis of ALS and must have served on
active duty for at least 90 continuous days. Veterans with ALS can qualify for benefits regardless of where
(domestically or abroad) or when they served in the military and regardless of when they were diagnosed with the
disease following military service.
Survivors and Families: Surviving spouses and families also may be eligible for benefits even if a veteran with
ALS passed away years or even decades prior to implementation of the ALS regulations in 2008. Benefits for sur-
vivors can include monthly compensation and medical benefits among others.
Information and Assistance: To learn more about these vital benefits, including answers to frequently asked
questions, eligibility requirements, and how to apply for benefits, please visit The ALS Association’s website at
www.alsa.org/policy/veterans.cfm.
If you are a veteran with questions about your benefits, please contact
Kristen at 248-680-6540 or Denise at 616-459-1900
The drug was
shown to have a
favorable effect
on extending
survival.
ALS Drug Candidate to Enter Stage 3 Program in 2011
This week an announcement was made by Biogen Idec and Knopp Neurosciences that they have
entered into an exclusive licensing agreement under which Biogen Idec with develop and commer-
cialize KNS-760704 (dexpramipexole). The drug was show to have a favorable effect in pre-
serving motor function and extending survival in patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Scerlosis. The
drug has received orphan drug designation from the FDA as well as Fast Track Designation. In the
Phase 2 study, the drug was found to be generally well tolerated.
Biogen Idec hopes to begin a Phase 3 program of the drug in early 2011. For more
information about this development, visit http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/
articles/198522.php.
The ALS Messenger Page 4
ALS Association Announces New Research Grants
The ALS Association, Michigan Chapter was excited to learn that a new cycle of grants were funded by The ALS Asso-ciation to contribute to the search for meaningful treatments and eventually a cure for ALS. This article can be found in its entirety at http://www.alsa.org/news/article.cfm?id=1666&CFID=6657493&CFTOKEN=fc602820c2f24b43-7C33E1C0-188B-2E62-806186710117324B The ALS Association has announced newly-funded research grants for the August 2010 cycle. Our TREAT ALS Portfo-lio (Translational Research Advancing Therapies for ALS) is a research endeavor enabling important research to pro-gress from the laboratory to the bedside. The focus of the program is to support novel ideas, build tools, partner with in-dustry to identify new potential therapies and support the infrastructure for clinical trials, with the goal to find meaningful treatments for ALS and a cure. In addition, through the Milton Safenowitz Post-doctoral Fellowship program, young scientists are encouraged to focus their interest in ALS research. New research studies funded this year will focus on areas of stem cell research, genetics, therapy development, biomarkers and neuroinflammation. Three new Milton Safenowitz Postdoctoral fellows will focus on the genes recently identified for familial ALS, TDP43 and FUS; new techniques to identify genes for familial ALS; and a novel triple transgenic mouse to identify the role of inflammation in ALS. Descriptions of the twelve funded projects are available on the ALSA National website at http://www.alsa.org/news/article.cfm?id=1666&CFID=6657493&CFTOKEN=fc602820c2f24b43-7C33E1C0-188B-2E62-806186710117324B. De-scriptions of two of the awarded grant proposals are detailed below.
Novel Surgical Approaches to Stem Cell Transplantation for ALS Clive Svendsen, Ph.D. Cedar-Sinai, Los Angeles, CA Presently there is one clinical trial at Emory University injecting stem cells produced by the company Neuralstem into the spinal cord of patients with ALS. This project uses a very invasive but accurate injection method where a frame is placed on the patient under deep anesthesia and a large portion of the spine is exposed in order to target the appropriate region for transplantation. This study, however, uses a much simpler and non invasive approach for stem cell delivery based on a modified lumbar puncture technique. An outer guide needle is positioned in close proximity to the spinal cord, and an inner needle con-taining the cells is pushed under imaging guidance into the target area and cells are then injected. The investigators have developed a clinical grade neural stem cell line that secretes a powerful growth factor, GDNF. They plan to inject these cells using this procedure in a number of pigs under conditions where the data can be used for presentation to the FDA and then progression to a clinical trial. Bone marrow-derived cells as gene delivery vehicles in ALS Charles Krieger, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada Fabio M.V. Rossi, Biomedical Research Center, University of British Columbia, Canada The use of bone marrow-derived cells as a novel therapeutic delivery system has considerable promise in the treatment of ALS. Bone marrow-derived cells can be injected into the circulation, and there is evidence from pre-clinical studies that these cells are capable of entering the brain and spinal cord under some conditions. The investigators’ previous work has shown that bone marrow cells enter the brain and spinal cord in an animal model of ALS. In this work they will engineer the population of bone marrow cells that enter the central nervous system to produce growth factors such as vascular-endothelial growth factor (VEGF) within the nervous system to permit delivery of growth factors directly to brain and spinal cord. They anticipate that these growth factors will aid in the survival of diseased neu-rons. They will identify which bone marrow-derived cell types enter the nervous system so that we can restrict the pro-duction of growth factors only to the specific bone marrow population that enters the nervous system. Knowing the rele-vant cell populations will allow them to restrict production of the secreted growth substances which will minimize the ad-verse effects of using the engineered cells.
The ALS Messenger Page 5
Wheelchair Accessible Van Available through Generous Donation
A result of a one PALS’ incredible generosity, The ALS Association, Michigan Chapter is able to announce the availabil-
ity of a 1995 Plymouth Voyager wheelchair accessible van for private donation to one of our Michigan PALS. The van
has 123,133 miles. The van has a ramp that is powered by a switch on the side of the van. It has a lowered floor with air
bags that raise it to driving height when put into gear. Due to lack of use, the van has a leak in its fuel line. Whomever
receives this van would need to incur the cost of this repair, in additional to all other expenses associated with the transfer
and subsequent ownership of the vehicle.
If you are interested in being the recipient of this donation, please email [email protected] or call the
Troy office at 248-680-6540 for an application for consideration. Applications will be accepted until 5pm on Wednes-
day September 8th. An application must be submitted for consideration. The recipient will be determined based on need
and notified by September 15th.
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 Call In 2-3
Troy SG 6:30-8pm
10 11
Jackson & Trav-
erse City Walk to
Defeat ALS
12
Grand Rapids SG
2-4pm
13 14 15 Kalamazoo SG
7-8:30pm
George Clark from
HandyMan Matters
presenting
16 17 18
Portage Walk to
Defeat ALS
19 20
Bay City SG 6:30
-8pm
21 Call-In 6:30-
7:30
22 23 Survivors Lunch
Gaylord SG 6:30-
8pm
24 25
Detroit Walk to
Defeat ALS
26 27 Flint SG 6:30-
8pm
28 29 30
September Chapter Calendar
The ALS Messenger Page 6
Respiratory Issues Conference: October 28, 2010
Respiratory Issues and Equipment
presented by Airway Oxygen Inc.
Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital
2nd floor conference room
October 28st
6:30pm-8:00pm
Please RSVP to Denise George at [email protected]
or 616-459-1900 by October 21, 2010.
“More research
using a greater
number of cases are
required to produce
conclusive results.”
Researchers Investigate Head Trauma & ALS
quires further investiga-tion.” A further ALS Association publication notes that while patients with ALS have evidence of motor neuron degeneration, pa-tients with CTE do not. They believe Lou Gehrig did in fact have ALS, as he demonstrated clear motor neuron disease. This new study adds to the body of knowledge surrounding motor neuron disease, and points out that more research us-ing a greater number of cases are required to produce conclusive re-sults. To read the full New York Times article, visit http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/18/sports/18gehrig.html?_r=1&emc=na
Researchers from Boston University are publishing a new study in the Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology on the relationship of head trauma and amyo-trophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The researchers found toxic proteins in the spinal cords of the three athletes. Those same proteins have been found in the brains of athletes with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a disease linked to head injuries that causes cogni-tive decline, abnormal behavior and dementia. Previous studies have linked TAR DNA-binding protein (TDP-43) to some familial forms of the dis-ease, and although etiol-ogy of sporadic ALS is unknown, it has long been suspected to involve a complex interaction be-
tween multiple genetic and environmental risk factors. Among the many environmental factors that have been considered as possible triggers of the neurodegenerative cas-cade in ALS are a history of trauma to the brain and spinal cord, participation in varsity athletics and a slim physique, and strenuous physical activ-ity. A New York Times article suggests that brain trauma can mimic ALS, and that perhaps Lou Ge-hrig may not have had the disease that bears his name. ALS Association Chief Scientist Lucie Bruijn is quoted in the article as saying, “It’s ex-tremely interesting - it builds a more interesting picture, but what this all exactly means about how the disease plays out re-
The ALS Messenger Page 7
Michigan Offers Extraordinary ALS Care
The following clinic is also
recognized by The ALS Asso-
ciation:
The MSU at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital 360 Lafayette Suite 308 Grand Rapids, MI 49503
616-493-9727
ALS Patients living in Michigan have the ability to choose between sev-eral excellent ALS cen-ters to visit for their multi-disciplinary clinical care. With two certified centers of excellence and another clinic going through the process, there are many venues for treatment in Michigan. For more infor-mation on the clinic near-est to you, please contact your Patient Services Co-ordinator .
Michigan is home to the following certified centers:
Henry J. Hoenselaar Clinic Henry Ford Hospital Neurology K-11 2799 West Grand Blvd Detroit, MI 48202 313-916-2835 The University of Michigan Health System 1914/0316 Taubman Center
1500 E. Medical Center Dr Ann Arbor, MI 48109 734-936-9020
“A feeding tube
should be
completely
comfortable.”
Advice from the Trenches: Feeding Tube Care
water and Q-tips, remove the soapy fluid. And fi-nally dry the area with dry Q-tips. Do this every day. You can use apply gauze around the tube, but I suggest not using tape. The gauze will stay in place if the split is on the bottom side of the
tube.
If you have a length of tube lying on your abdo-men, I find it convenient to loop the tube in a loose knot when not being used. This keeps it from inadver-tently being pulled during
transfers.
As a precaution, it’s best to take an acid reducer. It’s very easy for stomach acid to enter the tube tract. A feeding tube should be completely com-fortable. If you feel burn-ing or pain, this may be
the cause.
Sandra Lesher Stuban is an RN who was a 38-year old Lieu-tenant Colonel in the Army when she was diagnosed with ALS. She’s the author of ―The Butcher’s Daughter: The Story of an Army Nurse with ALS,‖ in which she describes her journey openly and honestly. Although she is completely paralyzed and uses a ventilator, she lives an active life as a writer, nurs-ing leader and mother of a
teenage son.
Q: I am having more difficulty swallowing. I think I will soon need a feeding tube. But I am nervous and feel like I am los-ing my fight against ALS. Do you have any advice? A: A feeding tube, also known as a PEG (percutaneous endo-scopic gastrostomy) or g-tube (gastric tube), is actually your way to win this one battle against ALS. ALS isn’t defeating you, rather you are defying its paralyzing effects by using a simple comeback – the feeding
tube. You can also look at a feeding tube as a pair of glasses. You could do without it but why make yourself miserable. Here are some general tips for living well with a feeding
tube.
I am an advocate of keeping things simple. I know some people insist on pureeing the same food the family eats. However the same family mealtime dynamics can occur whatever the food choice. Therefore I recom-mend a liquid total nutri-tion meal such as Isocal, Nutren, Osmolite, and oth-ers. Plus it’s much easier
for your loved one.
Caring for a feeding tube is very easy. Simply mix a few drops of liquid anti-bacterial soap with warm water then use a Q-tip to clean the skin immediately beside the tube. Using tap
ALS Association Certified CentersSM
are medical facilities that have been certified by The Association as distin-guished regional institutions recognized as the best in the field with regard to knowledge of and experience with ALS
The ALS Messenger Page 8
Thank You to All of 2010 Walk to Defeat ALS Registered Teams!
The following teams have committed to participate in one of the 2010 Walk to Defeat ALS loca-
tions. Thank you for your dedication to fighting ALS with us!
Allens Allies GR Myrna,s Legacy TC
ALSAWest DT One Step at a Time DT
Annie's Hope PO Outliers Against ALS DT
Athlete's Feat GR Pardee for PALS DT
B3 - Beyer's Bodacious Bunch GR Peaches ~N~ Creame DT
Barbie's Crane Train GR Peggy's Pals PO
Benny's Buddies DT Poma's Posse DT
BHS Alumni Rally for Lynn GR Quicken Loans DT
Blaze Man PO Roger's Dodgers TC
BlueWater Technologies DT Ruthie's Warriors PO
Bouma-JJ's Foot Soldiers GR Ruthie's Warriors GR
Brian's Bullpen PO Sallys BARn on a mission DT
Chase Bank - Suburban Detroit Group DT Sally's Footprints GR
Chris' Crusaders GR Sophia's Sidekicks DT
Chuck's Commando's DT Spunkie Ankie TC
Compuware DT Strides for Stuif PO
Conly's for a Cure DT Team Dale DT
Connie's Clique GR Team GR GR
Craig's Crew/Miss Mattawan Scholarship Program PO Team Jana Wood DT
Curt's Crusaders JK Team Mary Lou PO
Dawn's Divas GR Team Moceri DT
Debbie DT Team Pablo GR
Gran's Girls DT Team Ratliff DT
Gryffindor for the Cure PO Team Regis DT
Harriet's Helpers PO TEAM REOCH II PO
Jean's Team DT Team Rhythm Pointe DT
Jeffrey Pate vs. Lou Gehrigs Disease VW Team Sharon Johnson GR
Jeffs Gang DT Team Taggart GR
Joseph's Angels JK Team Tison DT
Julie's Street Walkers PO Team Troy DT
Ken's Friends DT Team Troy GR
Kids for a Cure DT Team Ureel DT
Lake Michigan Credit Union-Joggin for Joe GR T's Team PO
Lake Orion Early Childhood Program DT vests hope for a cure GR
Mama's Girls TC Vitas DT
Mary's Girls DT Walking for Larry GR
Maui Time DT Walt's Winning Warriors DT
Metro-West Appraisal Co. DT WCCCD Bookstore DT
Miracle Awareness Team GR Willi/Gould Gang PO
Mr. Roger's Friends PO Willis/Gould Gang GR
DT= Detroit Walk; GR= Grand Rapids Walk; PO= Portage Walk; JK= Jackson Walk; TC= Traverse City
The ALS Messenger Page 9
RESEARCH UPDATE: From The ALS Association, National Office
August 26, 2010
Study Identifies New Genetic Risk Factor for Lou Gehrig’s Disease
An international study led by biologists and neuroscientists from the University of Pennsylvania, published this week in Nature, has identified a new genetic risk factor for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which is commonly known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease. Using yeast and fruit fly as simple, yet rapid and powerful models, and then following up with human DNA screen-ing, the team found evidence that mutations in the ataxin 2 gene were a genetic contributor to the disease. More specifically, the study shows that expansions of a run of the amino acid glutamine in ataxin 2 are associated with an increased risk for ALS, with a frequency of 4.7 percent of ALS cases examined. The identification of pathological interactions between ataxin 2 and TDP-43, another ALS-associated disease pro-tein should aid in the development of biomarkers and empower the development of new therapies for this dis-ease. Results of the study were confirmed in fruit fly models, in biochemical analyses, and in human cells, revealing that ataxin 2 is a potent modifier of TDP-43. The study showed that ataxin 2 and TDP-43 interact in animal and cellular models in a manner to promote pathogenesis. ―This is a very exciting study using a novel approach to identify risk factors in ALS,‖ said ALS Association Chief Sci-entist Lucie Bruijn, Ph.D. ―The association between TDP-43 and ataxin 2 is intriguing and further studies will hope-fully shed more light on how these interactions are linked to ALS.‖ The results indicated a link between the proteins and the disease. For example, when the researchers directed expression of TDP-43 to the eye of the fruit fly, a progressive, age-dependent degeneration began. When di-rected to the motor neurons, flies experienced a progressive loss of motility: the higher the levels of ataxin 2, the greater the toxicity of TDP-43, resulting in more severe degeneration and the less the amount of ataxin 2, the less the toxicity. ―Because reducing ataxin 2 levels in yeast and flies was able to prevent some of the toxic effects of TDP-43, we think that this might be a novel therapeutic target for ALS,‖ said study co-senior author Aaron Gitler, Ph.D., assis-tant professor of Cell and Developmental Biology at Penn’s School of Medicine. The ataxin 2 gene had previously been implicated in another neurodegenerative disease called spinocerebellar ataxia 2, or SCA2. Ataxin 2 contains a repeated stretch of the amino acid glutamine, abbreviated Q. This tract, called polyQ, is usually short, only about 22 or 23 Qs. However, if the polyQ tract expands to greater than 34 Qs, patients develop SCA2. The new results show that intermediate-length polyQ repeats, between 27 and 33 Qs, longer than normal but shorter than what causes SCA2, increase a person’s risk for developing ALS. Our findings do not mean that if you have 27 Qs or more in your ataxin 2 gene that you will definitely get ALS, only that it increases risk for it,‖ Gitler added. ―However, the identification of a novel and potentially common ALS disease gene from a simple yeast screen, leveraged by the more complex model created in fruit flies, under-scores the extraordinary power of yeast and fly as model systems for gaining insight into human disease patho-genesis.‖
Create Awareness with an ALS Wristband!
675 E. Big Beaver, Suite 207 678 Front Street, Suite 159
Troy MI, 48083 Grand Rapids, MI 49504
The ALS As soc ia t io n , M i ch igan Cha pte r
People with ALS and their families come first in everything we do. Our vision is a world without ALS!
FIGHTING LOU GEHRIG’S DISEASE
Fighting Lou Gehrig’s Disease red wristbands are
available through our offices. These red silicone bands
make a unique statement and create awareness. They
are available at a recommended donation of $2 per
band. Please call your local office for more informa-
tion on getting your wristband!
Troy—248-680-6540
Grand Rapids—616-459-1900
Phone: 248-680-6540 616-459-1900
Fax: 248-680-6543 616-459-4522