Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease. ALS attacks cells in the brain and spinal cord that are needed to keep muscles moving, leading to muscle weakness, paralysis and eventually death.

ALS is a beast of a disease.  Typically taking the lives of those with ALS in a short 2-5 years. Taking away the ability to walk, talk or breathe on one’s own.  Leaving victims completely paralyzed, so they are left trapped in their own bodies.

ALS is “everyone’s disease” because 90 percent of all ALS cases are random, meaning there is no known history of the disease in a family. It may affect anyone, anywhere. The remaining 10 percent of cases are known as familial ALS, which means the disease is inherited.

For unknown reasons, military veterans are approximately twice as likely to be diagnosed with the disease as the general public.