A Night of Hope
Marking its milestone 15th year, the Night of Hope Gala has raised over
$9.5 million dollars to fund critical research for ALS. Each year, the gala
committee enlists the help of corporate sponsors and individual donors
to assist in the major undertaking to bring awareness to this tragic illness
and to fund various research initiatives, including the local MDA-funded
ALS clinic at Emory Healthcare. This event was started in 2006 by Holly and Palmer Proctor to honor
Holly’s father, Steve Ennis. Steve was a former manager, president and
chairman of the board of Coca-Cola Bottling Works of Tullahoma, Tenn.,
and was diagnosed with ALS in July 2005. His battle with the disease
ended in January 2012. However, his strength, determination and hope have remained a cornerstone for this event and its supporters. ALS Today
ALS takes away the freedom to walk, to talk, to eat, to breathe. There are approximately 30,000 Americans living with ALS – a disease that causes nerve cells to inexplicably die, leading to weakness and paralysis of all voluntary muscles, including those used for swallowing and
breathing. There is no cure for ALS and the life span after onset of symptoms is typically three to five years. Due to your support, we are living in a time of unprecedented progress in neuromuscular research and our fight against ALS. The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) has led the way for innovations in science and care for 70 years. Since its inception in 1950, MDA’s total investment in ALS is now over $372 million, with more than $170 million in funding specifically dedicated to ALS research. Your generous support makes it possible for MDA to continue to provide clinical care for ALS patients, support for ALS families, and funding of research and clinical trials that will soon change the future of ALS.
