The Road To The Final Four

From the ALS Association Florida Chapter:

The ALS Association Florida Chapter
Media Alert
888-257-1717
813-637-9010 (fax)


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 31, 2010

ALS Patient to Deliver Pre-Game
Speech to Butler University Basketball Team before NCAA Final 4
Game

WHO/WHAT:
Matt White, 43, a Florida man living with the terminal illness ALS, also known
as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is gearing up to deliver a pre-game speech to the
Butler basketball team for the NCAA Final 4 game in Indianapolis on Saturday.
Matt White is a Butler alumnus who now lives in Cape Haze, Florida. ALS has
paralyzed White, robbing him of his ability to walk, speak, and breathe well.
However, he hasn’t let the disease steal his passion for life. White plans to
deliver his pre-game speech through his wife who will speak for him.

The inspiring speech comes in anticipation of The ALS Association’s ALS
Awareness Month which will occur in May. During the month, The ALS Association will join with patients like Matt White who are living life to the fullest in spite of ALS and attempt to raise awareness of the deadly illness which is
currently impacting more than 30,000 Americans. The speech also comes in
anticipation of National ALS Advocacy Days, May 9-11, when hundreds of patients will join in Washington, D.C. to advocate with lawmakers to enact laws that will
help people living with ALS.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that causes its victims to become completely paralyzed, gradually stealing their ability to move any of their limbs. The disease affects motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. When the motor neurons die, a patient’s muscles waste away. The patient is robbed of the ability to walk, speak, eat, and eventually breathe. Upon diagnosis, patients are given only two to five years to live. There is no cure for ALS.

Visit www.alsa.org
for more information about ALS.

WHEN/WHERE:
Tomorrow, April 1st at 1pm
Matt White departs from Venice Municipal Airport for Indianapolis,
Indiana

Venice Municipal Airport
150 Airport Avenue East
Venice, FL
34285-3937



MEDIA CONTACT: Kamden Kuhn, The ALS Association Florida
Chapter
(813) 335-9704
(cell)
kkuhn@alsafl.org

Interviews with Matt White and his wife, available upon request