ALS Foundation for Life

THE ALS FOUNDATION FOR LIFE CELEBRATES
 ITS 5TH ANNIVERSARY

The ALS Foundation for Life was created by Frank Carlson shortly after he was diagnosed with ALS.  In his efforts to educate himself on all aspects of living with this disease, he found that the financial burdens associated with the day-to-day care of an ALS patient were overwhelming.  He wanted to build an organization that would continue to help provide ALS patients with financial support for expenses that insurance did not cover and family funds were unavailble to meet the needs of providing a better quality of life for the ALS patient.  In 2003 the ALS Foundation for Life was incorporated, and continues to operate as a 501(c)(3) organization run solely by volunteers.

Can Do Kids 

Bowling Tournament Aims To Strike Out ALS

October, 2007
By Stacey Bomser

When it came to picking a mitzvah project for his upcoming Bar Mitzvah, Michael Feldman wanted to do something that affected him personally. That’s why he decided to plan a bowling tournament to benefit ALS Foundation for Life. His aunt, Nancy Pottruck, suffers from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

She was diagnosed about a year and a half ago and Michael says he’s noticed the changes. “It saddens me to watch someone I love so much not be able to do all the fun things and play games with me any longer,” states Michael.

“My aunt is not as active as she used to be. She can’t walk anymore without support and she uses a feeding tube,” he explains. “But the biggest change is that she can’t hug me anymore because she has lost most of her forearm muscles.”

In layman’s terms, ALS breaks down the muscles and nerves in the body. It can strike anyone, at any age, and any race or ethnic background. “My Aunt Nancy is one of about 30,000 people with ALS and there are 5,000 new cases diagnosed each year,” states Michael.

Sadly, the life expectancy of an ALS patient averages two to five years from the time of diagnosis. And the cost of care can be extraordinary. It is estimated that in the advance stages, care can cost $200,000 a year. “It takes a toll on the family’s savings,” says Michael, noting that many patients can’t afford to buy the things they need, such as wheelchairs.

Wanting to do something to help these families, Michael has created the first annual Nancy Pottruck Bowling Tournament to improve the quality of life for those with ALS. Proceeds will go to the ALS Foundation for Life. This organization provides financial assistance for persons with ALS in need of home modifications, medical equipment and supplies to help maintain a sense of independence and dignity.

“I’m hoping to raise $7,000 to $10,000 at the bowling tournament,” says Michael. He says he is modeling the event after a similar one held each year in Boston. “Last year, they raised enough money to help 11 people.”

He invites the Weston community to support his cause. The Nancy Pottruck Bowling Tournament will be held on Sunday, November 18^th at Davie Lanes, located at 8200 W. State Road 84 between Pine Island Road and University Drive. Check-in is at noon and the bowling begins at 12:30pm. The cost is $100 for a four-person team or $25 per person. To register call Michael Feldman at (954) 384-8736.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun. I encourage kids to get together with their friends and make a team, or families to play,” says Michael. He says his family really enjoys bowling together and that’s the reason he came up with this type of tournament fundraiser.

There will be prizes for the highest scoring bowler as well as the top team. The community is welcome to come support this cause, even if they don’t want to bowl. “We’re planning a bake sale and you can buy raffle tickets too,” says Michael. He is also accepting donations and sponsorships.

ALS Foundation for Life is a 501c(3) non-profit corporation. All donations are tax deductible. For more information or to donate online, visit www.alsfoundation.org.

Frank's Story

Just turning 27, Frank Carlson had his whole life ahead of him.  His career was on its way, he shared an apartment with a friend, bought his first brand new car. He had a loving family and friends, quite the active social life, and had met that someone special.  He was excited to become an uncle and was looking forward to the day he would be married and have his own child. Things were looking good. Then Frankie started experiencing some symptoms of vertigo, and he started tripping without any apparent reason.   After being treated for minor infections and later going through a battery of testing for more serious illnesses, Frankie was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in March of 2001 … just before his 28^th birthday. Click here for full story