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This November, The ALS Association Honors Our Nation’s Veterans and Family Caregivers
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The ALS Association again salutes those special people who serve as family caregivers during National Family Caregivers Month. The theme for this year’s campaign is “Family Caregivers Matter!” And indeed they do as they put forth much time, energy and effort to care for spouses, children, parents and other loved ones who require daily assistance in living with Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
On November 11, The Association also pays respect to the armed forces on Veterans Day. In honor of these men and women who have valiantly fought for our country and have also waged or are waging a tremendous battle against ALS, we are celebrating their strength and courage on the Wall of Honor. Nearly 200 service members are included on this wall, which features veterans from every era, ranging from before World War II to the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Please help The Association honor these individuals this month and throughout the rest of the year. If you know someone living with ALS who has served in the military, please ask them to submit their information to the Wall of Honor. Also, remember to send a note of encouragement and thanks via an e-card to show your support to that special family caregiver.
Sincerely,
Jane H. Gilbert President & CEO
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Advocacy and Public Policy
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2012 Veterans Day Awareness Campaign
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Veterans Day is November 11, and The ALS Association once again is launching a national campaign to raise public awareness of our military heroes fighting ALS and those who have been lost to the disease.
We encourage you to participate in the campaign in as many ways as you can, including by uploading veterans' stories and photos to the "Wall of Honor" and by sending a letter-to-the-editor of your local newspaper. Visit our website or follow us on Twitter to find out more about how we're honoring veterans.
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Guide to the 2013 Medicare Rx Drug Benefit Open Enrollment
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The ALS Association encourages people with ALS who are enrolled in Medicare to take advantage of the annual Open Enrollment period to make sure they have the best coverage available to meet their prescription drug and health care needs in 2013. The open enrollment period takes place October 15 to December 7, 2012.
During the open enrollment period, those currently enrolled in a Medicare prescription drug plan have an opportunity to switch plans, or they can remain in their current plan. Those who did not enroll in the benefit when they first became eligible for Medicare also may enroll at this time, although these individuals may be subject to a late enrollment penalty.
Click here to read the full article and to download the guide.
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Research Update
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Updates on Two Clinical Trials |
Recently two clinical trials that are moving to the next phase were announced involving potential treatments for people with ALS: NP001 Phase III and Tirasemtiv Phase IIb, formerly known as CK-2017357.
Click here to read article
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ALS Association-funded Study Identifies Potential Therapeutic Target in RNA Enzyme |
A new study funded in part by The ALS Association has revealed a potential new target for therapy to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig’s Disease. This study, published in Nature Genetics on October 28, shows that lowering the level of a cellular enzyme reduces the disease-causing activity of a major ALS-related protein called TDP-43.
Click here to read article
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C9orf72 Symposium Highlights New Ideas in Understanding and Treating ALS and FTD |
The discovery of the C9orf72 gene is perhaps the most exciting discovery in ALS in the last 20 years, according to researchers hard at work to understand how the gene causes ALS and a related disorder, frontotemporal dementia (FTD). To maximize the growing understanding of the gene among the widest possible group of scientists, The ALS Association partnered with The Association for FTD to sponsor a symposium in New Orleans at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, the world’s largest assembly of neuroscientists.
Click here to read full article.
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How You Can Help
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Flexible Giving - Making Your Mark with a Bequest
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Including The ALS Association in your will or living trust is one of the simplest ways to leave a lasting legacy. With a bequest, you continue to enjoy the use of your assets during your lifetime - there is no immediate cost to you.
Charitable bequests are flexible: you can designate a certain dollar amount or a certain percentage of your estate or even specify that anything left after your loved ones are provided for will go to help fight ALS. Whichever type of bequest you choose, your gift will be put to use helping to eradicate this devastating disease.
An important point to remember about charitable bequests is that you remain in control of your assets throughout your lifetime. Circumstances can change, and one of the reasons bequests are so popular is that you can modify your beneficiaries at any time.
Please contact our office for more information or if we can be of assistance.
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