2015 -- S 0932

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LC002639

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING THE MONTH OF MAY, 2015 TO BE "ALS ADVOCACY MONTH" IN THE

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

     

     Introduced By: Senators Walaska, McCaffrey, Felag, Lynch, and Gallo

     Date Introduced: May 19, 2015

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

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     WHEREAS, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), known by many as Lou Gehrig's

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disease, is a progressive, fatal neurodegenerative disease that attacks nerve cells in the brain and

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spinal cord, making even the simplest movements such as walking, speaking, and gesturing

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nearly impossible; and

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     WHEREAS, An estimated 30,000 individuals in the United States are afflicted with ALS

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at any given time, with a little over 5,600 new cases appearing in this country and over 450,000

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people worldwide each year; and

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     WHEREAS, Approximately 15 new cases of ALS are diagnosed every day, and every 90

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minutes someone loses their battle with the disease; and

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     WHEREAS, ALS can strike anyone regardless of race, sex, age, or ethnicity which is

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why finding the cause of and cure for ALS will prevent the disease from taking more lives; and

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     WHEREAS, Aggressive treatments of the symptoms of ALS can extend the lives of those

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living with the disease; and

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     WHEREAS, Raising public awareness of this disease will facilitate the discovery of a

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cure and bring much needed support and services to families in Rhode Island and across the

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nation who are dealing with ALS; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

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hereby proclaims the month of May, 2015 to be "ALS Advocacy Month." We furthermore urge

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all the citizens of the state to educate themselves on ALS and to help combat this disease by all

 

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means possible; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Rhode Island Chapter of the ALS

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Foundation.

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LC002639

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