HomeMy WebLinkAboutPROCLAMATION re ALS Awareness Month Regular Agenda
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of County Commissioners
FROM: Adiel McKnight,Deputy Clerk of the Board
DATE: April 27,2026
SUBJECT: PROCLAMATION re: Proclaiming May 2026 as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Awareness Month
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also commonly known as 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. Thousands of new amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
(ALS) cases are reported every year, and estimates show that every 90 minutes, someone is diagnosed with
ALS and someone passes away from ALS.
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.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve Proclamation re: PROCLAMATION re: Proclaiming May 2026 as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Awareness Month
REVIEWED BY:
C�- c 1
Jos . Peters, County Administrator Date
PROCLAMATION
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month
WHEREAS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also commonly known as 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 90 minutes, someone is diagnosed with ALS and someone passes
away from ALS; 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 $154 million to support more than 550 projects across the United States
and 18 other countries; and
WHEREAS, the ALS Association is committed to make ALS livable and cure it for everyone,
everywhere; 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;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT Jefferson County Board of Commissioners
hereby proclaim the month of May 2026 as ALS Awareness Month.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month
We encourage all County residents all Americans to join in supporting ALS research,advocating for increased
funding,and standing in solidarity with those affected by this relentless disease.
PROCLAIMED this 27th day of April, 2026.
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
SEAL:
Greg Brotherton, Chair
ATTEST: Heather Dudley-Nollette, Member
Carolyn Gallaway, CMC, Clerk of the Board Heidi Eisenhour, Member