It’s been said that if you want to move forward, you need to first look back – to remember not only where you came from but also where you need to go. As I look back on 2016, I am reminded of areas of great improvement, but I also see many opportunities for growth.
In 2015, the ALS Association of Texas increased its patient reach across Texas by almost 50 percent in one year. In response, we made many strides to grow our programs and services to fulfill our mission in 2016, including adding a new ALS clinic and loaning out the largest amount of equipment we ever have.
The highlight of our year was developing a partnership with Dr. Stanley Appel, the founder of the ALS multidisciplinary treatment model. In August, we certified the Houston Methodist ALS Clinic as a Center of Excellence and committed to an annual investment of $25,000. With this addition, we are able to serve an increased number of patients at four ALS clinics across the state, bringing us another step closer to our goal of providing assistance to every ALS patient in the state of Texas. In addition to funding top-notch care to people with ALS, the Houston Methodist ALS Clinic also manages clinical trials and ALS research and gives patients access to a broader network of clinical trials.
With the rising cost of healthcare comes an added burden on families facing ALS. Providing the necessary care for an ALS patient can cost an average of $200,000 a year. In 2016, we granted over $100,000 in financial assistance to families facing the burden of ALS-related expenses. This is the second year in a row that we’ve been able to help families financially, providing assistance to patients we’ve previously been unable to assist due to the expansive geography of Texas.
We also expanded our programs and outreach into El Paso and the Rio Grande Valley. We created a great foundation for care that we can continue to build on in the years to come. It’s a foundation we can recreate in other areas of the state, with the end goal of providing care services to every patient in the state of Texas.
The ALS Association Texas Chapter strives to pursue a cure for ALS while caring for those that currently live with the disease. Because of the generosity of our donors, we were able to increase our programs and impact throughout the great state of Texas. The above mentioned achievements are just a few highlights, but none of it would have been possible without the support of your donations.
As we approach the end of the year, I encourage you to donate to ALS Texas and help us to move forward in continuing to provide and expand our services to people and families facing ALS. Your financial contribution will make a positive impact in the lives of people living with ALS in Texas. Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Tanner Hockensmith
Executive Director
To give to ALS Texas this holiday season, visit donate.alstexas.org.
