 |
|
| ALS ONE, a partnership of the top ALS experts from leading Massachusetts institutions, including UMass Medical School, has launched the ALS ONE license plate. |
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito joined leaders in ALS research and care, including UMass Medical School’s Robert H. Brown Jr., DPhil, MD, at the State House on Monday, Sept. 26, to launch an ALS ONE license plate to raise awareness and funds.
ALS ONE is a partnership of the top ALS experts from leading Massachusetts institutions, including UMass Medical School, ALS Therapy Development Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital and Compassionate Care ALS. Its goal is to find a treatment or cure for ALS by 2020, while improving care immediately. Since its founding, ALS ONE has raised nearly $6 million to support ALS research and patient care.
Dr. Brown, the Leo P. and Theresa M. LaChance Chair in Medical Research, chair and professor of neurology, and a member of the ALS ONE leadership team, was joined at the event by Jan Cellucci, wife of the late Gov. Paul Cellucci; members of the Frates and Gosnell families; Merit Cudkowicz, MD, MSc, chief of neurology at MGH; Ron Hoffman, founder and director of Compassionate Care ALS; and Steve Perrin, PhD, CEO of ALS Therapy Development Institute.
Gov. Baker recalled how the late Gov. Cellucci “turned what was admittedly a difficult diagnosis” into action. Cellucci helped launch the UMass ALS Cellucci Fund, after being diagnosed with ALS. Baker called the license plate program a way in which “people can be a part of the search for the cure,” adding that, “clearly UMass is considered to be among the great ALS institutions in the United States.”
Lt. Gov. Polito praised Cellucci’s commitment to raise millions in support of research through the UMass ALS Cellucci Fund at UMMS.
“It's very exciting to see this new and attractive plate that will now be available for all to support this worthwhile cause,” she said.
The ALS ONE plate was approved by the Registry of Motor Vehicles, and requires 750 registration applications to begin production and funding.
To learn more about the ALS ONE organization and how to reserve an ALS ONE license plate, visit www.ALSONE.org.
