Les Turner ALS Foundation
Founded1977
FounderLes Turner
Typenon-profit
PurposeALS research, awareness, and patient services
Location
Key people
Laura Freveletti, Chief Executive Officer [1]
AffiliationsInternational Alliance of ALS/MND Associations
Websitelesturnerals.org

The Les Turner ALS Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Chicago that provides amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patient services; supports events, education and awareness about ALS; and funds ALS research.[2] Since it was founded, it has raised over $64 million.[3]

History and programs

The Foundation was founded by Les Turner, a Chicago businessman, and his family after he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 1976.[4] Les Turner serves nearly 90 percent of ALS patients in the Chicago metropolitan area.[5]

In 1979, the Les Turner ALS Research Laboratory was opened at Northwestern Medicine. Then, in 1986, the Lois Insolia ALS Clinic was opened at Northwestern to provide patient services. It was one of the first multidisciplinary ALS clinics opened in the United States. Currently, in addition to medical care, the clinic offers access to clinical trials and research studies.[4][6]

In 1983, the Foundation started patient support groups.[7] The groups are now offered online at no cost.[8]

In 1992, Les Turner ALS became a founding member of the International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations.[7]

In 2002, the Foundation's main event, the ALS Walk for Life was started.[7][9]

In 2014, the Les Turner ALS Center at Northwestern Medicine was created to "accelerate research and advance patient care". The Center was opened in addition to the continual operation of three research laboratories and the Lois Insolia ALS Clinic.[10] Among the Center's contributions to ALS research have been the 1993 co-discovery of the first genetic mutation linked to cause ALS, SOD1,[11][12] as well as FUS in 2009[13][14] and others linked to familial ALS.

In 2015, Les Turner ALS released the campaign, "Freeze ALS", along with 12 ice sculptures around Chicago for ALS Awareness Month.[15][16]

References

  1. ↑ "Les Turner ALS Foundation Names Laura Freveletti as New Chief Executive Officer". Les Turner ALS Foundation. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  2. ↑ "About the Foundation". Les Turner ALS Foundation. Retrieved 2016-04-29.
  3. ↑ "Our impact on ALS research & support". Les Turner ALS Foundation. Retrieved 2016-04-29.
  4. 1 2 "History and Mission". Les Turner ALS Foundation. Retrieved 2016-04-29.
  5. ↑ Litas, Lee (2016-03-15). "Gala raises $550,000 for Les Turner ALS Foundation". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2016-04-29.
  6. ↑ "Lois Insolia ALS Clinic". Les Turner ALS Foundation. Retrieved 2016-04-29.
  7. 1 2 3 "History and Mission". Les Turner ALS Foundation (Internet Archive). 2015-10-04. Archived from the original on October 4, 2015. Retrieved 2016-04-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. ↑ "Free ALS support groups". Les Turner ALS Foundation. 2023-12-08.
  9. ↑ "ALS Walk for Life returns to Soldier Field". ABC7 Chicago. 2015-09-26. Retrieved 2016-04-29.
  10. ↑ "Les Turner ALS Foundation Commits $10 Million for New Center". Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health. Retrieved 2016-04-29.
  11. ↑ Rosen DR, Siddique T, Patterson D, Figlewicz DA, Sapp P, Hentati A, et al. (March 1993). "Mutations in Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase gene are associated with familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis". Nature. 362 (6415): 59–62. Bibcode:1993Natur.362...59R. doi:10.1038/362059a0. PMID 8446170. S2CID 265436.
  12. ↑ "Les Turner ALS Center at Northwestern Medicine". Les Turner ALS Foundation. 2023-12-08.
  13. ↑ "Researchers Identify ALS Gene Mutation". Feinberg School of Medicine. 2009-03-09.
  14. ↑ Kwiatkowski TJ, Bosco DA, Leclerc AL, Tamrazian E, Vanderburg CR, Russ C, Davis A, Gilchrist J, Kasarskis EJ, Munsat T, Valdmanis P, Rouleau GA, Hosler BA, Cortelli P, de Jong PJ, Yoshinaga Y, Haines JL, Pericak-Vance MA, Yan J, Ticozzi N, Siddique T, McKenna-Yasek D, Sapp PC, Horvitz HR, Landers JE, Brown RH (February 2009). "Mutations in the FUS/TLS Gene on Chromosome 16 Cause Familial Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis". Science. 323 (5918): 1205–1208. Bibcode:2009Sci...323.1205K. doi:10.1126/science.1166066. PMID 19251627. S2CID 12774563.
  15. ↑ Pager, Tyler (2015-05-08). "Ice sculptures come to Northwestern to raise awareness for ALS, following success of Ice Bucket Challenge". The Daily Northwestern. Retrieved 2016-04-29.
  16. ↑ "ALS Awareness Month". Les Turner ALS Foundation. Retrieved 2016-04-29.

Further reading


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