Kiss My A.L.S
Beginning in January, North Mecklenburg High School HOSA Chapter launched their new focus for 2018--Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Better know for its abbreviation, ALS, is “a progressive neurodegenerative disease that effects of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord,” defined by The ALS Association. The degeneration of the motor neurons causes those who suffer from ALS to endure weakness throughout their body and eventually lose functionality of their muscles. The weakening of the muscles causes twitching, or fasciculations, and wasting away, or atrophy. Individuals lose the ability to speak, eat, move, and even breathe. Those diagnosed with ALS are only expected to live two to five years from the time of diagnosis. But despite such a short life expectancy, there is no cure for this neurodegenerative disease. With approximately 15 people diagnosed with ALS everyday, this disease takes the lives of over 5,600 people a year. Compared to many other diseases, this amount of deaths a year is extremely significant.
What else sparked the decision for the North Mecklenburg HOSA Chapter to spread ALS Awareness?
This school year North Meck HOSA contacted a student that recently transferred to North Meck High School, Abigail Woodall. She shared with the HOSA Officers about her story, as her mother was diagnosed with ALS and passed away three years ago. Abigail further explained that she was participating in the ALS Association’s “Walk to Defeat ALS,” on May 5th, 2018 with other North Meck Students. Her team name for the walk is Kiss My A.L.S. (Awesome, right!) and they would be raising money up until the event to contribute to ALS research.
With Abigail opening up with HOSA Officers and being such an active individual on the teen council for her mother’s own foundation A Giving Spirit Foundation (AGSF), HOSA officers were moved. It was soon decided that North Mecklenburg High School HOSA Chapter would join the fight against ALS to support Abigail, those who are affected by ALS and those who are battling the disease now.
Therefore January served as the kickoff for North Meck HOSA to learn about and spread awareness on ALS. North Meck HOSA members made amazing flyers to share with the school what ALS is, statistics and also to promote participation or donations to our very own powerful Viking, Abigail Woodall! In addition to flyers to spread ALS awareness, North Meck HOSA officers also have decided to organize a Bake Sale that will commence the weekend of April 14th. All North Meck HOSA members are already working together to make posters, social media posts, awareness ribbons, announcements and of course--baking sweet treats! All of the proceeds will be donated to Abigail’s team, Kiss My A.L.S., along with the ALS Association as a whole.
The North Mecklenburg High School HOSA Chapter plans to continue the ALS awareness theme until the end of the 2017-18 school year and are proud to join the fight against ALS, all while supporting our own classmate!
Read more about Abigail's story below and use the following link to donate to her cause: http://bit.ly/2Gq1bmR
