This month’s organization for ALG’s Year of Giving, the Les Turner ALS Foundation, was selected by Administrative Professional, Shari Santelli. Founded in 1977, The Les Turner ALS Foundation is Chicagoland’s leader in comprehensive ALS care and one of the longest-serving ALS groups in the country.
As noted on the Les Turner ALS Foundation website, “The progression of ALS can mean tomorrow is often worse than today.” Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (“ALS”), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurological disease. It causes muscle weakness, impaired breathing, speaking, swallowing, and eventually total paralysis.
Throughout its history, the Les Turner ALS Foundation has taken an individualized approach to ensure each person living with the disease receives the best quality of care and access to the most promising therapies. In over 40 years of operation, The Les Turner ALS Foundation has raised over $75 million to fight ALS.
Read Shari’s heartfelt message regarding why she feels so strongly about this wonderful cause below:
The cruelest thing about ALS is that intellectual function remains unaffected, and the person is acutely aware of what is happening to their body. Supporting the fight against ALS is a cause near to my heart as my husband and I lost a very dear friend to this horrible disease. There is no cure, but thanks to the Les Turner ALS Foundation, help is within reach.
Tom was a vibrant man of 58 when he was diagnosed with ALS after suffering symptoms as common as leg twitches. Something you would ignore as just overused muscles after a hard day’s work. The progression was swift and relentless. Tom’s greatest pleasure was attending car shows. It was a chance to get together with his friends to talk about the cars he owned, or someday wished to own. The Les Turner ALS Foundation helped him and his wife Lisa in so many ways. When he was no longer able to walk on his own, they provided him with a motorized wheelchair. When the disease further robbed him of the ability to speak, they provided a device which enabled him to communicate. Tom died of respiratory failure a month after his 60th birthday while watching a classic car auction on TV.
If you would like to support the work of the Les Turner ALS Foundation, you can make a donation by mail to Les Turner ALS Foundation, 5550 W. Touhy Avenue, Suite 302 Skokie, IL 60077-3254 or make a donation online at: https://secure2.convio.net/ltals/site/Donation2;jsessionid=00000000.app232a?1400.donation=form1&df_id=1400&NONCE_TOKEN=1FA5A4C09C6BD650B1058E1A0240B172
