Famous People Who Have/Had ALS
- Lou Gehrig- was an American baseball player in the 1920's-1930's. He has set the record for most grand slams in a season, 23, and still has that record. In 1938, on his 36th birthday, Gehrig was diagnosed with ALS. Being one of the first famous people to have this disease, it has now unofficially been known as Lou Gehrig's disease. (Disable World)
- Stephen Hawking- is a professor who conducted the basic laws that govern the universe. Along with conducting basic laws that govern the universe, Hawking, with help, has been able to show Einstein's General Theory of Relativity. When asked about ALS, Hawkings states that he is "quite often asked: How do you feel about having ALS? The answer is, not a lot. I try to lead as normal a life as possible, and not think about my condition, or regret the things it prevents me from doing, which are not that many." Many of you may know him as the man who is in a wheel chair who speaks through a computer. (Disable World)
- Chris Pendergast- Pendergast was diagnosed with ALS when he was 44 years old. He rode his electric wheel chair from Yankee Stadium, to Washington, D.C- a 350 mile journey that took 15 days. This journey, also known as "Ride for Life" launched a campaign he started to increase research funding for ALS. In its 9th year, the annual Ride for Life has raised a combined amount of around $2 million. (Disable World)
- Augie Nieto- is the founder and retired chief executive of Life Fitness, and the chairman of Octane Fitness. He was diagnosed in 2005 with ALS, and as an act to find a cure, he started Augie's Quest, a group that collects donations to cure ALS. Already, they have raised over $30 million. (Disable World)