ALS Awareness Month is a campaign to spread awareness of and raise funds for research for a cure for ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease).
In Canada, June has been declared as ALS Awareness Month by the Canadian Minister of Health.[1] In 2015, it was recognized by the House of Commons.[4]
During this month, the ALS Association sponsors the National ALS Advocacy Day and Public Policy Conference and leads a delegation of people with ALS, their caregivers and other advocates to Capitol Hill to urge legislators to support measures to help find treatments and a cure.[citation needed] Other organizations, including the ALS Therapy Development Institute and the Les Turner ALS Foundation have their own initiatives.
In 2003, Georgia GovernorSonny Perdue declared May to be ALS Awareness Month in the state.[8] He repeated this action in 2011. In addition, Governor Nathan Deal in 2012, 2013,[9] and 2014.[10] In 2016, Governor Deal declared January 26 to be ALS Awareness Day in Georgia.[11]