Make July 4th National ALS Awareness Day

On April 30th 1939 The New York Yankees were defeated by The Washington Senators in what would be the last game of Lou Gehrig's legendary baseball career. Two years later Lou Gehrig would lose again, but to a more formidable opponent, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

ALS, a progressive and usually fatal degeneration of the nerve cells that cause voluntary muscle movement was first described by French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot in 1874. Its been close to 150 years since then and we still don't have an effective treatment or cure for this disease.

It is estimated that everyday in the U.S. 15 people are diagnosed with ALS. I know that doesnt sound like very many people, but consider the fact that this disease has no cure and no treatment. Each year 5,600 people in our country alone are faced with the prospect of gradually making the transition from cane, to walker, to wheelchair. Losing their strength, mobility and independence. Losing their hope that a treatment or cure for this disease will be discovered in their lifetime. There is a gross lack of funding for the research of this disease. Many of you reading this petition are well aware that despite the valiant efforts of several organizations across the country, WE ARE LACKING THE FUNDS TO EFFECTIVELY RESEARCH AND DEVELOP TREATMENTS FOR THIS DISEASE.

On July 4th 1939 Lou Gehrig stood on the field at Yankee Stadium in front of a packed house and said goodbye to the game that he loved so much. The spotlight has never shone as brightly on ALS as it did with the passing of Lou Gehrig. This July 4th will mark the 70th anniversary of that historic day in baseball and it would be the perfect opportunity for fans of our great American pastime and for the MLB franchises to stand up together in a statement to ALS that we will NOT be defeated. We WILL find a cure. We WILL honor the memory of Lou Gehrig and everyone who has been touched by this terrible disease. The time is now and we CAN do something to make this happen.

Every 4th of July millions of baseball fans gather in stadiums, around televisions and around radios to cheer on their favorite teams. Let's take this opportunity to remind people that every single day this disease is taking lives. Let's rebroadcast Lou Gehrig's farewell speech. Let's give fans an opportunity to remember his legacy and donate to this worthy, but neglected cause. We need to make the 4th of July to ALS what Labor Day is to the MDA. This should be our holiday. This is our chance to raise in 24 hours what we could never hope to raise in a years worth of smaller fund raisers. Let's organize volunteers to collect donations at baseball fields across the country. Let's contribute that money to ALS research and let's knock one out of the park for our friends and family struggling against this disease. LET'S KNOCK OUT ALS!

We are petitioning you that July 4th 2009, the 70th anniversary of Lou Gehrig's farewell speech and every July 4th from this day forward be declared National ALS Awareness Day and that opportunities be provided at baseball fields across the country for people to donate to ALS research.