August 12, 2010
Thursday PM

I have been going to Washington DC since 2006, when my father Mel Teal, was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. My friend, and former Ketchikan resident, Jenny (Gore) Dwyer and her husband, Pat, who also has ALS, have joined me as well. Jenny was recently named "Advocate of the Year" for ALS, and Senator Murkowski was there to see her get the award. Senator Murkowski and her staff have always taken the time to listen, and I greatly appreciate all that she has done for Alaska, especially her continued support for ALS. Without her support, we would have never seen the ALS Registry Act passed.

Senator Lisa Murkowski has been a champion for patients with ALS --also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. She has taken on this cause and has fought through political landmines for our cause. Fortunately in 2008, she succeeded in helping to pass the ALS Registry Act which provides for a database -- a registry to compile information from all individuals, nationwide, who have been diagnosed with ALS. For something as simple as a national registry, it is shocking that for decades this legislation has alluded those suffering from ALS and their families. Thanks to Lisa, this is one less thing those with ALS need to worry about.

It's been over 70 years since Lou Gehrig was diagnosed with ALS and yet we're not closer to cure. Thanks to Lisa Murkowski's heavy lift to push this bill over the finish line and have a registry enacted into law, we are now one step closer to finding a cure for ALS.

Thank you Lisa for your perseverance and for your passion for helping us. You truly empathize with your constituents and have helped us achieve a huge victory.

Sincerely,

Linda (Teal) Kreider
Ward Cove, AK

Received August 11, 2010 - Published August 12, 2010

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