ALS networking

Prize 4Life Objectives. Prize4Life is a results-oriented non-profit organization with the mission of finding innovative and ground-breaking treatments and cures for ALS, through: Inducement prize model significant prizes for measurable achievements solving critical research problems and issues that are preventing the discovery of an effective ALS treatment Financing research and ALS studies and effecting national policy changes Developing innovative concepts for ALS research and database building Supplement and complement existing efforts by attracting new minds from various disciplines, publicizing the fight against ALS to increase awareness of this terrible disease The fundraising efforts, done through events and donations are the basis, support all activities. Prize4Life is highly efficient with minimal expenses all raised funds are dedicated to its mission. ALS Overview. ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) is a progressive fatal neurodegenerative illness that attacks motor neurons. When motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to control muscle movement is lost, leading to paralysis. Eventually, all muscles under voluntary control are affected and patients in time lose their ability to walk, talk, swallow, and breathe. During this horrible process, the mind remains completely intact observing the loss of each function. When the diaphragm and chest muscles fail, patients stop breathing on their own. The majority of people with ALS die of respiratory failure within 3 to 5 years. In Israel, there are at least 700 people with ALS, and about 200 die annually. According to the US National Institute of Health (NIH), ALS is an orphan disease which means treatment development is disadvantageous for pharmaceutical companies relative to other diseases. ALS understanding is still minimal and there are no drugs on the market that treat ALS.