• “Courage is grace under pressure”
  
  - Ernest Hemingway

Posted: August 25th, 2014

The ALS “Ice Bucket Challenge” is a wonderful viral campaign, which has swept the country and now the world, to raise money and awareness for ALS research. Though there were versions of the challenge previously circulating, the idea for the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is attributed largely to Pete Frates, a young ALS patient who I have the honor to have met. You can (and should) go to Pete’s site and learn more about his amazing journey. Like all ALS patients, Pete’s story is not likely one with a happy ending, and he knows that. The odds are very strongly stacked against him, but he continues to fight, he continues to inspire and he continues to lead. Pete’s life is truly the definition of grace under pressure, and we are all the beneficiaries of his love and his courage. As of Sunday August 24th, something close to $70 million has already been raised for ALS research as a result of this awareness campaign, and I have no doubt that the awareness raised will lead to a sustained increase in much needed funding from all sources.

Ted Harada and I have completed the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge (which can be viewed here) and have nominated Commissioner Hamburg of the FDA to support ALS research and awareness. We would like to extend this challenge to the entire ALS community, and ask you all to do yet one more bucket drop and call on Commissioner Hamburg to complete the challenge. The FDA has been very supportive of Neuralstem’s clinical programs as well as others in ALS. I know that Pete’s dream is to help find a treatment for ALS, if not for himself than for others who follow. I know that he would be honored by such a tribute.