One Couple's Fight to Cure ALS

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Six years ago when former Obama staffer Brian Wallach was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - ALS - a rare neurological disease that kills most people who contract it within a few years, he and his wife Sandra Abrevaya quickly got to work. They launched a non-profit advocacy group I AM ALS and a battle to try and fight for increased funding and research that they hoped would lead to a cure for the disease.

Since then Wallach and Abrevaya have changed the face of medical advocacy in the country, helping secure legislation that President Biden signed in 2021 that funds $100 million worth of ALS initiatives each year.

NPR's Juana Summers spent time with Wallach and Abrevaya to hear about their fight for a cure for ALS.

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This episode was produced by Elena Burnett and Marc Rivers. It was edited by Courtney Dorning and Jeanette Woods. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.