The ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI) announced today that it is supporting a new awareness campaign driven by several ALS patients diagnosed with the progressive neurodegenerative disease commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease before the age of 30. This campaign, called ‘Young Faces of ALS’, is designed and led by a group of seven young men and women and will consist of a group effort to visit each of the 30 Major League Baseball (MLB) parks during the 2010 baseball season. The Young Faces of ALS Campaign will leverage this national platform to educate people about how ALS can strike anyone and that there are no typical ALS patients. They hope to encourage greater action toward supporting on-going research at ALS TDI to slow and stop the disease. ALS TDI was co-founded by Stephen Heywood, who was diagnosed with ALS at age 29. Stephen lost his battle with ALS during the fall of 2008.

A grassroots movement, this Young Faces of ALS group is using Facebook and other online social media to share information about the campaign, including pictures from the games each of them attend. The group regularly meets via conference call or video call and works together to choose who will go to each game. The group also invites other ALS patients diagnosed at a young age to contact them and get involved with the campaign. An anonymous donor provided funding to execute their project and the group relies on their friends and other ALS patients in the cities they visit to help provide other forms of support.

Wherever the group goes they will be answering questions and fundraising via text message set up by the Institute. People can donate $5.00 to ALS research and in support of the Young Faces Campaign by sending ‘EndALS’ to 20222. A website is planned that will contain full bios, pictures and a blog regarding the group’s efforts and travels during the 2010 baseball season. This public awareness campaign is an independent effort and is not affiliated with MLB or any specific baseball organization. For more information, please email us at info@als.net.

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