The ALS Association - Alabama Chapter

About Our Chapter
The Alabama Chapter was founded in late 2004 to serve the needs of those living with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and their caregivers. Initially we only served the North Alabama community, but due to strong interest we have expanded our service area to include the entire state of Alabama. Headquartered in Huntsville in north-central Alabama, we are the only ALS Association-sanctioned organization in the state. While we make every effort to offer all of our services to any ALSA-registered patient, please note that due to travel distance and limited resources, in some cases we cannot provide certain “hands-on” services to patients in remote regions of the state. We do however have valuable information and referral services available to any ALS patient or caregiver in Alabama. The ALS Association is the only national not-for-profit health organization dedicated solely to the fight against ALS. The ALS Association covers all the bases — research, patient and community services, public education, and advocacy — in providing help and hope to those facing the disease. The ALS Association (National Office and the Alabama Chapter) operates under a shared mission: to lead the fight to cure and treat ALS through global, cutting-edge research, and to empower people with Lou Gehrig’s Disease and their families to live fuller lives by providing them with compassionate care and support. We work together to accomplish our mission.

The Alabama Chapter focuses primarily on helping local patients and families live with ALS while the National Office focuses primarily on research and advocacy. The Chapter supports the National Office through revenue sharing and research contributions. The National Office supports the Chapters by providing up-to-date information and materials. Our accomplishments are made possible by the generosity of others. From the smallest donation to the largest gift, donors touch the ALS community with hope for the future. kruse The ALS Association symbolizes the hopes of people everywhere that Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis will one day be a disease of the past – relegated to historical status, studied in medical textbooks, conquered by the dedication of thousands who have worked ceaselessly to understand and eradicate this perplexing killer. Until that day comes, The ALS Association relentlessly pursues its mission to help people living with ALS and to leave no stone unturned in search for the cure of the progressive neurodegenerative disease that took the life and name of Baseball Legend Lou Gehrig.

As the only not-for-profit voluntary health agency dedicated solely to the fight against ALS, we direct the largest privately-funded research enterprise engaged to uncover the mystery of a disease that affects as many as 30,000 annually. With more than 5,600 people diagnosed each year – an average of 15 new cases each day – our mission is urgent. The search for answers knows no bounds. The ALS Association’s far-reaching efforts extend to Capitol Hill and some of the world’s finest research laboratories. We’ve awarded nearly $27 million since 1991 for scientific and clinical management research. We’ve brought the ALS community the historic Medicare waiver of the 24-month waiting period and a 100% increase in funding since our advocacy campaign began. But nowhere does this battle reach deepest than in our work with ALS patients and their families.

We embrace thousands of those stricken with the disease with the world’s most comprehensive program of care and services. Our nation-wide network of chapters coordinates services with care and compassion – making a difference in the lives of people with Lou Gehrig’s disease. Our hallmark of quality is exemplified in centers and clinics that deliver advanced care and meet The ALS Association’s rigorous criteria for certification.