Thank you for helping us reach our fund raising goal! Together we can make a difference in the lives of those affected by Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Our team is committed to raising money to support people in our community with ALS and spread awareness of the urgency to find treatment and a cure. As a person diagnosed with ALS, Joe Mayo dedicated the remainder of his life to helping those like himself. After starting his own scholarship fund to help the families in need that are effected by the disease Joe also put his energy into fighting for this comprehensive bill requiring private insurers to cover hospice, palliative, and end-of-life care and promoting education about care options for the terminally ill residents of Maine. The bill officially became Maine law in 2001 and not only makes coverage of hospice care a required insurance benefit, but it makes people eligible for hospice care when they have a life expectancy of twelve months or less (a change from the preexisting six months or less). In addition, the bill increased the State of Maine’s Medicaid reimbursement rate for hospice care to more accurately reflect the rising costs of drugs and other treatments. His effort didnt stop there as he also participated in the local walks and funraisers along with his family. Please consider joining our team in the Walk to Defeat ALS® or choose a team member from the list and donate to our cause. Celebrating a person who refused to allow this disease to limit him and those alike while raising money in his memory is both an honor and privelidge we hope you can help take on with us.
Why We Need Your Help
Often referred to as Lou Gehrig's Disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, fatal neuromuscular disease that slowly robs the body of its ability to walk, speak, swallow and breathe. The life expectancy of an ALS patient averages 2 to 5 years from the time of diagnosis.
Every 90 minutes a person in this country is diagnosed with ALS and every 90 minutes another person will lose their battle against this disease. ALS occurs throughout the world with no racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic boundaries.
This crippling disease can strike anyone. Presently there is no known cause of the disease yet it still costs loved ones an average of $200,000 a year to provide the care ALS patients need. Help make a difference and donate or join a walk today.
