The ALS Association, Connecticut Chapter held one of its walks today to raise awareness and funds for those affected by the disease. ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease effects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement.
I found out earlier this year that a high school friend of mine, Brian Dillon, is afflicted with this terrible disease for which there is not cure or even effective treatment. The disease slowly takes over your nerves and your body. Motor skills start to degrade and disappear. Simple functions like breathing become increasingly difficult as nerves fail and muscles start to atrophy. Eating becomes difficult, as chewing and swallowing begin to be affected. While all of this is happening, ALS does not effect the senses of the person being ravaged, or their thoughts. Slowing they lose control of their body while their minds are still very active.
The prognosis is death usually 3 to 5 years after first being diagnosed. About 20% make it past 5 years.
Today, Saturday September 25th 2010 Brian, his team along with others teams and family members gathered at Walnut Hill Park in New Britain, CT to walk 3 miles showing support for patients, family and friends who are effected by this terrible disease while raising money to help patients, and work toward finding a cure and treatements.
To learn more about The ALS Association, Connecticut Chapter please visit their Facebook Page.
For Photos of the participants and volunteers, please visit this link. I have donated my time and these images to the friends, family members and those struggling with this terrible disease. You can use them any way you wish. There is a special type of copyright that allows you to download and share them as long as they are not used for commercial purposes. You can share them on social media sites like Facebook as long as you give the credit ( ie.. photo by Richard A Marti Jr ) For those of you who would like to connect with me on Facebook, please feel free. You can also connect with me via my Facebook business page, A Passion For Connection.
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