RESOLUTION
BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT COLLINS-BELLAMY, MAJORITY LEADER RUBBO, MAJORITY WHIP ROBINSON, MINORITY LEADER BREEN, COUNCILMEMBERS, PINEDA-ISAAC, DIAZ AND MERANTE:
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RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF YONKERS DECLARING THE MONTH OF MAY 2025 "ALS AWARENESS MONTH"
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WHEREAS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, and known by many as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive fatal neurodegenerative disease that attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord; making even the simplest movements - walking, speaking, gesturing - nearly impossible; and
WHEREAS, approximately 30,000 individuals in the United States are afflicted with ALS at any given time, with more than 6,000 new cases appearing each year; and
WHEREAS, approximately 15 new cases of ALS are diagnosed every day, with a person losing their battle with the disease every 90 minutes; and
WHEREAS, the average life expectancy of a person with ALS is two to five years from the time of diagnosis; and
WHEREAS, ALS strikes people regardless of race, sex, age, or ethnicity; and
WHEREAS, finding the causes of, and cure for, ALS will prevent the disease from robbing hundreds of thousands of Americans of their dignity and lives; and
WHEREAS, aggressive treatments of the symptoms of ALS can extend the lives of those living with the disease; and
WHEREAS, Patrick Quinn, a native and resident of the City of Yonkers who was diagnosed with ALS in 2013, co-founded the famous ALS Ice Bucket Challenge with his friend and fellow ALS campaigner Pete Frates; and
WHEREAS, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge was a tremendous event that raised $115 million in the summer of 2014 that brought awareness to the devastating disease and helped spur a large increase to the ALS Association's budget to conduct important and impactful research; and
WHEREAS, on December 9, 2019, Pete Frates unfortunately passed away from the disease at the age of 34; and
WHEREAS, on November 22, 2020, Patrick Quinn also unfortunately passed away at the age of 37; and
WHEREAS, their legacy will live on in the hearts of the ALS community, and their tireless work to advance research will never be forgotten so that one day, we can create a world without ALS; and
WHEREAS, Patrick Quinn's legacy will forever live on in the City of Yonkers, and his inspiration and courage in his tireless fight with ALS will never be forgotten; and
WHEREAS, raising public awareness of this disease can facilitate the discovery of a cure, and bring much needed attention and dollars for support and services for families in New York State and the City of Yonkers that are dealing with ALS; and
WHEREAS, the month of May has been designated as National Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month since 1992, when the United States Senate passed Joint Resolution 174, and has since been observed nationwide year, with events designed to promote research and provide improved support for those coping with the disease and the families who care for them;
NOW IT BE RESOLVED, that this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to recognize May 2025 as ALS Awareness Month in the City of Yonkers.