August 29, 2014
New Britain’s legislative delegation joined the fight against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) today by taking the “Ice Bucket Challenge” at the Hospital for Special Care. The ice bucket challenge has been a highly successful fundraising effort that has swept throughout social media and raised $94.3 million for the ALS Association since it began in July. This has been an incredibly good summer for the ALS Association, which raised $64 million in all of 2013.
“What started as a few posts on Facebook has become a game-changing movement in the fight to treat and cure ALS,” said Senator Terry Gerratana. “I am proud to have been able to join this fight, and to support New Britain’s Hospital for Special Care, which provides truly unparalleled treatment for patients with ALS and other special healthcare needs.”
“This event shows how people can be galvanized in support of a cure or viable treatment - even though ALS is seen as unprofitable and not worth the pharmaceutical corporation’s time,” Representative Rick Lopes said. “I am very pleased to be able to participate in the ALS challenge with my legislative colleagues and look forward to the positive impact it will have on this horrible disease.”
“We're all really proud of the Hospital for Special Care in New Britain, and their ALS unit, which is the largest in the state. I am happy to help them raise funds. As a nurse of 30 years, I know how hard it is to access good care for ALS patients, and this hospital has a great reputation in the ALS community and this is just one more point of pride for the people of New Britain,” said Representative Peter Tercyak.
“I am honored to complete the ALS ice bucket challenge along with my colleagues,” Representative Bobby Sanchez said. “Before this movement started, not many people knew what ALS was about. As a result, today more and more people are learning that ALS is a serious disease for which we must work together to find accessible treatment.”
“Although I could not join my colleagues, I am there in spirit for this most important cause,” Representative Betty Boukus said. “I will be donating and encourage others to donate in order to move forward on the eradication of ALS.”
The legislators will all be making donations in support of ALS Treatment at the Hospital for Special Care. New Britain’s Hospital for Special Care (HSC) is a private, not-for-profit 228-bed rehabilitation long-term acute and chronic care hospital, widely-known and respected for its expertise in physical rehabilitation (including outpatient rehabilitation), respiratory care and medically-complex pediatrics. In addition to offering the state’s largest ALS treatment program, HSC helps treat patients with special healthcare needs including spinal cord injuries, pulmonary rehabilitation, cardiac care, acquired brain injuries, stroke, ventilator management and geriatrics.
“We really can’t say enough about the Ice Bucket Challenge and the national focus it has put on ALS, and we are grateful to our legislators for drawing attention to our own ALS clinic here at Hospital for Special Care. It is something that our patients and staff truly appreciate,” said Dr. John J. Votto, President & CEO at the Hospital for Special Care.
As of Tuesday, August 26, The ALS Association has received $94.3 million in donations compared to $2.6 million during the same time period last year (July 29 to August 26). These donations have come from existing donors and 1.9 million new donors to The Association, which has expressed immense gratitude for this outpouring of support.
ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Eventually, people with ALS lose the ability to initiate and control muscle movement, which often leads to total paralysis and death within two to five years of diagnosis. There is no cure and only one drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that modestly extends survival.
“We are simply awe-struck at the incredible generosity that has poured forth to help fight this disease,” said Barbara Newhouse, President and CEO of The ALS Association in an earlier press release. “Words cannot express how grateful we are to the nearly two million people who have donated and even more than that who have likely taken the challenge. You have all made an incredible effort in the fight against this disease.”