A 47 year-old New Hampshire man who underwent controversial stem cell surgery in China has died. Ronnie Abdinoor had surgery on the evening of Oct. 20 U.S. time and never left the hospital. Cause of death was said to be heart failure. Abdinoor complained of not feeling well shortly after going through the procedure, in which a team led by Dr. Hongyun Huang drilled two holes into the front of his skull and then transplanted cells from fetuses aborted in the second term. more...

Michael Thomas can't wiggle his toes or lift his right foot. He has lost about 30 pounds. He can't walk across the living room without support. He has three to five years left, doctors say. But Friday - thanks to the contributions of countless people known and unknown - he flew across the globe to Beijing. There Dr. Hongyun Huang, using a technique clouded with controversy, may be able to answer the question that has lingered since the day his mother was buried: Do I have to die so soon? Huang, a neurosurgeon at Beijing's Chaoyang Hospital, has been operating on patients who have spinal-cord injuries, Parkinson's disease and ALS. more...

Research suggests that implanting cells to support the motor neurons that die off in ALS can help stave off the disease. Another group has developed technology to “silence” the mutant gene that causes ALS. And a third group of scientists found that a support factor rescues motor neurons and could be of value in treating ALS. more...

Assisted suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian lost a Supreme Court appeal on in his bid to win freedom after five years in prison. Justices, without comment, turned back an appeal in which Kevorkian claimed he had an ineffective attorney when he was convicted of second-degree murder in the 1998 poisoning of Thomas Youk. Youk had Lou Gehrig's disease, and Kevorkian called it a mercy killing. The death was videotaped and shown on national television. more...

With the support of fans, the Red Sox have broken the Curse of the Bambino. With that victory now accomplished, Red Sox Pitcher Curt Schilling is turning to fans, with the hope that they will help him break another curse: The Curse of ALS. Share in the World Series victory celebration with Curt Schilling by contributing to his cause. Visit CurtsPitchforALS.org to make a contribution, or to purchase a "Why Not Us?(TM)" shirt, with proceeds benefiting Curt's Pitch for ALS in Massachusetts and the Red Sox Foundation. more...

No longer a pipe dream, new animal research now indicates that marijuana-like compounds can aid a bevy of debilitating conditions, ranging from brain disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinson's disease, to pain and obesity. In past studies, researchers determined that the main active chemicals in the drug marijuana produce a variety of effects by connecting to specific sites on nerve cells, called cannabinoid receptors. Researchers also discovered that these receptors normally bind to natural internal chemicals, dubbed cannabinoids. more...

In the fight against Lou Gehrig's disease, a relentless affliction that paralyzes its victims before killing them, scientists now believe they are developing powerful weapons to conquer it. At the Society for Neuroscience meeting this week in San Diego, scientists have discussed three new approaches that have shown some success in animals. Scientists hope to begin preliminary human clinical trials involving two of the approaches next year. more...

The initial analysis of data from the 12-month study of Celebrex failed to show a benefit for people with ALS. Although more analysis of additional study data is continuing, the Northeast ALS Consortium investigators are releasing this key finding to provide timely information to patients. There were no side effects or adverse events from the 800 mg. per day dose. More detailed information will be released when the full data analysis is complete. more...

Many in the ALS community are looking for more information about the stem cell treatments being provided in China. At this time, there is not sufficient information about Dr. Huang Hangyun’s work in China to indicate with scientific certainty that the treatment is safe and effective. Researchers and clinicians advise The ALS Association that it is premature to recommend this treatment for people with ALS. Although it is disappointing to all of us not to have definitive and positive results, The ALS Association will continue the dialogue and review Dr. Huang’s study results when they are presented. more...

A Beijing doctor is treating patients surgically, transplanting cells from second-term aborted fetuses into their brains, in the theory that it would help regenerate the motor neurons. This treatment is being hotly discussed in the ALS community -- not just by patients but by researchers and doctors, always wary of unsound treatment that could harm patients and of scam artists willing to profit from desperation. Western doctors have refused to endorse it because of the lack of scientific testing. There has been no animal testing and no human studies with control groups. Doctors also have not totally dismissed it for the same reason. For ALS patients, it's the first time they've been told maybe, just maybe, they have a chance. They've dug deep for the $25,000 cost, which is not covered by insurance. In some cases, families, friends and churches raised the funds. The doctor, neurosurgeon Hongyun Huang, said the yearlong waiting list is full and that he is training a handful of other surgeons to do what he does. more...

Darrin Lewis has gotten a new perspective about life over the past seven years, and he's come to realize that nothing has been promised to anyone. Now at age 40, Lewis and his wife, Tina, are the proud parents of 4-year-old Gabrielle. Their daughter is somewhat of a miracle in light of the fact that seven years ago, when he was first diagnosed with ALS, doctors told Darrin he only had about two years to live. This summer, Lewis found a new source of inspiration and the possibility to break free from some of the chains that physically bind him. He and his family are now looking forward to a trip to Beijing, China, where an experimental treatment is offering ALS patients something that currently can't be found here in the United States...hope. more...

There's no better gift we can give for the holidays than the gift of hope... the hope of finding a cure or treatment for ALS. That's what you give when you present your loved ones with an ALS Winter Holiday Ornament.

New for 2004, this custom, hand-crafted, solid pewter, hand-painted work of art is a representation of a lighhouse with the words "providing a beacon of hope." The reverse is inscribed, '"Lighting a way to the cure," the year 2004, and the words "Ride For Life."

The ornament comes in a velvet pouch along with a suction disk for permanent display. Custom engraving is available.

This is a perfect holiday remembrance for all those whose lives have been touched by ALS. Make this keepsake a must have, either for yourself or as a special gift. To date, ornament sales have funded $18,000 in research. Help us do more!

Call 212-355-3880 to order now or read on to find out how to order via mail, fax, or on line. more...

Ride For Life thanks all who applied for this round of Care for Life grants, which will provide limited, in-home respite care for qualifying ALS patients.

Applications are being reviewed and those selected in the upcoming random drawing to receive grants, for up to $1500 each, will be notified shortly.

A new round of grants will begin in January. Please watch this web site for more information. more...

Jim Ferraro is a silent hero - one of the 30,000 Americans who live and struggle with ALS. On November 11th, 2004 (Veterans Day), there will be a benefit for Jim at St. Leo's School Auditorium in Elmwood Park, NJ. This exciting evening of silent auctions, raffles, live music, and food will be hosted by Dave Price from The Early Show on CBS. The funds raised will be used for Jim's nursing, medical, and equipment needs. A portion of the funds will be donated to further the search for a cause and cure of ALS. Read on to find out how you can help. more...

Ride for Life is proud to announce it's new ALS message forum called 'Lenny's Place'.

It's a web community where ALS patients, caregivers, family, and friends, can meet and exchange tips, ideas, ask questions, and make comments about living with ALS.

'Lenny's Place' is open 24/7 and you can click this link to go to it. Please take advantage of this great resource. more...

Now every time you do your holiday shopping online at Amazon.com, Target, Office Depot, and Marshall Field's you can help fight ALS. Computers, electronics, office supplies, toys, games, clothes, furniture, videos, DVD's, books, and more!

Each time you use one of these special links to do your online shopping, Ride for Life will receive a small commission for each purchase you make.

It's a fun and easy way to help support Ride for Life's ALS research and patient services programs. And the best thing is it doesn't cost you a penny extra! more...

Ride for Life and ZazAngels have formed a consortium to fund the $200,000 needed purchase a mass spectrometer to support Dr. Robert Bowser's research to establish a biomarker for ALS.

By analyzing and averaging proteins in the spinal fluid, Dr. Bowser thinks he has uncovered a unique signature for ALS.

Should Dr. Bowser’s work prove accurate and replicable, it would present the first clinical tool available for ALS. The implications are many including drug trial efficacy, early diagnosis/intervention and disease progression.

Spearheaded by Ride for Life's Chris Pendergast and ZazAngels' Susan Hufford, a five-member funding team was put into place. Ride for Life contributed a total of $40,000, which was matched by ZazAngels through ALSA of Greater New York, along with monies contributed by the NIH, the Veterans Administration, and the University of Pittsburgh. more...

Last May, the 8th annual Ride For Life showed its muscles with an amazing band of volunteers and patients trekking through New York City and across Long Island over a period of a ten days. Patients afflicted with Motor Neuron Disease determinedly rode their power wheel chairs, showing that no matter what the circumstance they will not let ALS beat them. With pride and purpose, they completed the Ride’s premier event held each Spring during ALS Awareness Month to raise awareness and funds for ALS research and patient services. When the final pledges were collected and the ledger book was closed in August, the ALS Ride for Life 2004 had raised an incredible $281,000, far exceeding last year’s amount. more...

An important part of Ride for Life's mission is to help ALS patients and their familes who are facing the daily challenge of living with the disease.

Through your generous contributions, Ride for Life has established a patient services program to address some of these challenges.

Our first two programs, 'Care for Life' and 'Plan for Life', have been very successful and we hope to not only increase their scope but to also add more innovative programs, in the future.

Read on about how you might benefit from these patient services programs. more...