A Lawrenceville woman is urging Georgians not to forget about ALS three years after the viral Ice Bucket Challenge.
Before the challenge in 2014, Lyvonne Battle knew nothing about amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Lou Gehrig's disease. In June of 2016, doctors diagnosed her with the deadly disease, which is a "progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord."
Since then, Battle has lost the ability to move her arms and legs. She relies on friends, family and neighbors for support.
"It’s hard sometimes because your faith is challenged," Battle said. "But when you see all of the people that surround you, all of the resources that are provided for you to make your life just a little bit easier, then you know God is still with you."
The 43-year-old continues to work full-time and also works to raise awareness and funding for the disease. This will be her second year participating in the Walk to Defeat ALS in Atlanta, which benefits the ALS Association Georgia Chapter. The nonprofit helps her with transportation, home care and medical equipment. It also helps fund research for treatments and a cure.
<span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">If nothing else, I'm going to use my voice until I can't no more."</span></span></span>
The ALS Association Georgia Chapter's goal is to raise $625,000 at the walk through donations.
According the ALS Association, the Ice Bucket Challenge generated $115 million dollars in donations with $89 million going to fund research. Since 2014, four new genes have been discovered and two news drugs have gone to clinical trials.
Cox Media Group
