ALS Awareness Month explained

ALS Awareness Month
Date:	Canada June (annually)^[1] United States May (annually)^[2]
Years Active:	Canada: United States:
First:	Canada: 1990^[3] United States: 1992

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).

Canada

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]

United States

In the United States, the campaign is observed every year in the month of May.^[5] It is recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.^[6]

Advocacy

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. Other organizations, including the ALS Therapy Development Institute and the Les Turner ALS Foundation have their own initiatives.

Postage stamp

In 2008, the ALS Association created a commemorative U.S. postage stamp to promote ALS Awareness Month through Zazzle.^[7]

Individual states

Georgia

In 2003, Georgia Governor Sonny 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]

Massachusetts

In 2016, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker declared May to be ALS Awareness Month in the state.^[12]

Minnesota

In 2012, 2013, and 2014, Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton declared May to ALS Awareness Month in the state.^{[13] [14] [15]}

North Dakota

In both May 2014 and May 2016, the Governor of North Dakota issued proclamations declaring May to be ALS Awareness Month in the state.^{[16] [17]}

Ohio

On January 13, 2012, the 129th General Assembly of Ohio designated the month of May as ALS Awareness Month for the state.^[18]

Further reading

• Web site: May is ALS Awareness Month . [Northwest Observer] . May 6, 2011 . March 30, 2012 . Cosgrove, Alicia .
• Web site: Fresno man showcased during ALS Awareness Month . [KFSN-TV] . May 22, 2011 . March 30, 2012 . https://archive.today/20130124232125/http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=8145615 . January 24, 2013 . live .

Notes and References

1. Web site: ALS Awareness Month (Lou Gehrig's Disease) . [Health Canada] . June 2010 . March 30, 2012 . Aglukkaq, Leona . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130111063354/http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/minist/messages/_2010/2010_06_01-eng.php . January 11, 2013 .
2. Web site: 20th Anniversary of ALS Awareness Month: MDA to Honor 31 Americans . [Muscular Dystrophy Association] . May 3, 2011 . March 30, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110718033735/http://www.mda.org/news/110502als-awareness.html . July 18, 2011 .
3. Web site: June brings about another ALS awareness month . [ALS Society of Canada] . June 6, 2011 . March 30, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120504123027/http://www.als.ca/en/news/press-releases/june-brings-about-another-als-awareness-month . May 4, 2012 . dead . mdy-all .
4. Web site: ALS Awareness ALS Canada. als.ca. 2016-07-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20160915011941/http://www.als.ca/en/get-involved/als-awareness. 2016-09-15. dead.
5. Web site: Announcements: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Awareness Month – May 2011 . [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] . May 6, 2011 . March 29, 2012.
6. Web site: ALS Awareness Month 2016. CDC Blogs. 2 May 2016 . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2016-07-07.
7. Web site: New ALS Awareness Month Postage Stamp Now On Sale . [The ALS Association] . May 1, 2008 . March 30, 2012.
8. Web site: ALS Awareness Month Proclamation 2003. Georgia.gov.
9. Web site: ALS Awareness Month 2013. Georgia.gov. https://web.archive.org/web/20161010184550/https://gov.georgia.gov/sites/gov.georgia.gov/files/related_files/site_page/ALS%20Awareness%20Month%202013.pdf. 2016-10-10. dead.
10. Web site: ALS Awareness Month 2014. Georgia.gov. https://web.archive.org/web/20161010184453/https://gov.georgia.gov/sites/gov.georgia.gov/files/related_files/document/ALS%20Awareness%20Month%202014.pdf. 2016-10-10. dead.
11. Web site: ALS Awareness Day 2016. Georgia.gov. https://web.archive.org/web/20160409142448/https://gov.georgia.gov/sites/gov.georgia.gov/files/related_files/site_page/ALS%20Awareness%20Day%202016.pdf. 2016-04-09. dead.
12. Web site: ALS Awareness Month 2016. mass.gov.
13. Web site: ALS Awareness Month 2012. mn.gov. https://web.archive.org/web/20160818162741/https://mn.gov/governor/assets/ALS_Awareness_Month_tcm1055-92493.pdf. 2016-08-18. dead.
14. Web site: ALS Awareness Month 2013. mn.gov.
15. Web site: ALS Awareness Month 2014. mn.gov. https://web.archive.org/web/20160818191823/https://mn.gov/governor/assets/ALS_awareness_month_2014.pdf_tcm1055-93323.pdf. 2016-08-18. dead.
16. Web site: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Awareness Month North Dakota Office of the Governor. governor.nd.gov. 2016-07-07. 2016-09-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20160918010211/http://governor.nd.gov/media-center/proclamation/amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis-als-awareness-month. dead.
17. Web site: ALS Awareness Month North Dakota Office of the Governor. governor.nd.gov. 2016-07-07.
18. Web site: 5.2267 ALS Awareness Month. [Codes.ohio.gov]. March 30, 2012.