Campaign to Increase the Awareness and Understanding of Lou Gehrig's Disease Reaches...

Campaign to Increase the Awareness and Understanding of Lou Gehrig's Disease
Reaches 22 U.S. States

Non-Profit Biotech Calls on the Entire ALS Community to Join a Nationwide
Network of Independence Day Events

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The ALS Therapy
Development Institute (ALS TDI) announced its BBQ For ALS Awareness, is a
national initiative designed to increase the awareness and understanding of
ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), otherwise known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
To accomplish its goal, the campaign brings together three undoubtedly
American activities on July 4th, 2009 -- an Independence Day celebration, the
traditional summer barbecue (BBQ), and America's pastime -- baseball.

"The only weapon we currently have against this disease is raising awareness
and funds for research. The BBQ For ALS Awareness program is a simple and fun
way to accomplish both, and an important opportunity for everyone to help
fight against this deadly disease", said Michelle Dupree, a volunteer ALS TDI
Advisory Council member. Ms. Dupree has helped to organize several BBQ For
ALS Awareness events in the greater Sea Bright, N.J. area where she lives.
Michelle became one of the first ALS TDI Ambassadors shortly after her friend
Pam Callahan was diagnosed with the neurodegenerative disease that affects
more than 30,000 Americans at any given time.

ALS TDI, the world's first non-profit biotech and largest research center
focused exclusively on developing ALS therapeutics, has two goals for the BBQ
For ALS Awareness initiative, 100 events and at least one in each U.S. state.
So far there are events confirmed in 22 states, including, family and
neighborhood BBQ's, as well as events at restaurants and sports bars. Each
will take place on July 4, 2009 to coincide with the 70th anniversary of Lou
Gehrig's famous Yankee Stadium farewell speech. All funds raised at BBQ For
ALS Awareness events will go to support the research at ALS TDI. Participants
in the BBQ For ALS Awareness initiative will also become part of a larger
effort organized by Major League Baseball (MLB) to integrate awareness
activities into all fifteen home games taking place on July 4, 2009 as part of
MLB's 4ALS Awareness campaign.

"In addition to raising research funds, this program aims to ensure that new
generations of Americans know Gehrig's story and his contributions to the
game. Lou Gehrig deserves recognition for much more than the disease that
took his life. He is a hero to many, for both the way he lived, and for this
courage in confronting ALS. We must find a way to make ALS a thing of the
past," said Michael Goldsmith, an ALS patient, ALS TDI Ambassador and one of
the inspirations of the MLB led 4ALS Awareness campaign.

Following his diagnosis, Mr. Goldsmith wrote and had published an article in
Newsweek which led to an article in the New York Times - both called for
greater awareness of Lou Gehrig's disease and outlining how Major League
Baseball could help. Major League Baseball's response was immediate and, the
4ALS Awareness campaign was launched by MLB. Working together with four major
ALS organizations (ALS TDI, MDA's Augie's Quest, the ALS Association and
Project A.L.S.) the 4ALS Awareness initiative has the chance to become one of
the largest awareness events for the disease since Gehrig brought it to
prominence seven decades ago.

On July 4, 2009, each home team will host an on-field reading of Gehrig's
Farewell speech. All players will wear a "4ALS" patch on their chest and MLB
will promote the effort in a variety of ways, including in-stadium promotions.
In addition, MLB.com will conduct an online auction to raise funds for the
cause, and Major League Baseball will continue to work with the four
organizations to identify additional opportunities to raise funds and
awareness.

For more information about ALS TDI's BBQ For ALS Awareness program, including
a Google map showing confirmed events, visit www.als.net/mlb4als. For
additional information about the 4ALS Awareness campaign and activities taking
place in ball parks on the fourth of July, visit www.mlb.com.

About ALS TDI
The mission of the ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI) is to develop
effective therapeutics that slow or stop amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS,
Lou Gehrig's disease), as soon as possible. Focused on meeting this urgent
unmet medical need, ALS TDI executes a robust discovery program, as well as a
multi-pronged approach to validate potential therapeutics; including small
molecules, protein biologics, gene therapies and cell-based constructs. The
world's first non-profit biotech, ALS TDI has developed an industrial-scale
platform that allows for the development and testing of dozens of potential
therapeutics each year. Built by and for patients, the Institute is the
world's only non-profit biotechnology company with more than 30 professional
scientists. In addition, the Cambridge, Massachusetts based research Institute
collaborates with leaders in both academia and industry. For more
information, please visit us online at www.als.net.

SOURCE ALS Therapy Development Institute

Robert A. Goldstein of ALS Therapy Development Institute, +1-617-441-7295,
rgoldstein@als.net