|
raleigh, NC
ALS was first found in 1869 by French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot, but it wasn’t until 1939 that Lou Gehrig brought national and international attention to the disease. Ending the career of one of the most beloved baseball players of all time, the disease is still most closely associated with his name. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their death. When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, patients in the later stages of the disease may become totally paralyzed.
About Our Chapter
June Thompson founded The ALS Association North Carolina Chapter in 1987 to serve the needs of ALS patients and caregivers. In 2000, the Chapter expanded its services to include South Carolina and became known as the Carolinas’ Chapter. In August of 2002, the Carolinas’ Chapter was renamed the Jim “Catfish” Hunter Chapter to honor a North Carolina hero and to bring further recognition to our cause. In early 2006, a new South Carolina Chapter was formed and again our service area changed. We now provide services for just the state of North Carolina.
The ALS Association is the only national not-for-profit health organization dedicated solely to the fight against ALS. ALSA covers all the bases — research, patient and community services, public education, and advocacy — in providing help and hope to those facing the disease.
