LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim June 12, 2011 as ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) Day in the State of
New York

WHEREAS, Better known as Lou Gehrig's disease, Amyotrophic Lateral
Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease for which
there is no known cause, cure, or means of control; and
WHEREAS, On Sunday, June 12, 2011, the ALS Association Greater New
York Chapter will host its ninth Annual Westchester Walk to Defeat ALS
at Tibbet Brook Park in Yonkers, where, in 2010, over 800 participants
raised over $155 thousand; and
WHEREAS, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is responsible for nearly two
deaths per 100,000 people each year, approximately 5,600 people in the
United States are newly diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
each year and ultimately, thirty thousand people living today in the
United States will die from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; and
WHEREAS, ALS occurs throughout the world with no age, racial, ethnic,
or socioeconomic boundaries; this devastating disease has impacted the
lives of many people across this great State including former New York
State Senator Jacob K. Javits, who lost his battle at the young age of
81, William Glenn Monti, whose brilliance was darkened at the tender age
of 33 and Benjamin Tenzer, a beloved and devoted member of the Brooklyn
community; and
WHEREAS, This year commemorates the 72nd Anniversary of the Lou
Gehrig's Farewell Speech delivered at Yankee Stadium; in honor of those
Unforgettable words, "...today I consider myself the luckiest man on the
face of this earth...," all July 4th baseball games across the country
will host an on-field reading of that speech during the 7th Inning
Stretch; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, Major League Baseball has also announced "4 ALS
Awareness," a charitable campaign to help raise awareness and financial
support for organizations leading the fight against ALS; and
WHEREAS, This year also marks the 17th Anniversary of The ALS Associ-
ation Greater New York Chapter whose mission is 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; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to urge all of our
citizens to support the search for a cure of ALS and assist those indi-
viduals and families who deal with this devastating disorder on a daily
basis; and
WHEREAS, The New York State Wadsworth Laboratory has been at the fore-
front of research on brain to computer interface which will allow ALS
patients a better quality of life; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body urge the State of New York to
join forces with the ALS research community to begin to conduct ALS case
ascertainment for the purpose of coordinating with the National ALS
patient registry at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to
advance the fight against the disease in New York and across the United
States; and be it further
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 12, 2011, as ALS
(Lou Gehrig's disease) Day in the State of New York; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Andrew Cuomo, Governor of the State of New
York; Dorine Gordon, President and CEO of The ALS Association Greater
New York Chapter; Mr. William Monti; and Mr. Mark Rubin.