Dear ALS Community,

    Earlier this year ALS TDI recognized its 10th full year of existence. As we reflect on this milestone, we have been motivated to think back and remember all of the people that have been part of the ALS TDI family over the past decade. During my tenure at ALS TDI, I think of dozens of pALS that have personally inspired me, and who have helped us to break through barriers we have faced along the way. I am not merely an executive or a chief scientist; at the heart of my role at ALS TDI is a personal mission and responsibility to impact the lives of those battling this disease.

    The concept of putting 'family first' is neither new nor underused, yet it is the spirit through which ALS TDI was born. Through the love and commitment that Jamie Heywood had for his brother, he founded ALS TDI and attacked ALS as no one had ever before. Sean Forrester Scott was also putting his family first when he made the decision to volunteer at ALS TDI and innovatively wage battle against the disease which haunted his family for generations; a disease that would ultimately take his own life.

    Today, the ALS TDI family is strong because of the core values that we share: values like love, leadership, and compassion. Perhaps the most important value we embrace is that of 'patients today.' As an organization built by and for patients, we put those battling ALS today at the forefront of our minds in making every decision about which therapeutics to test in the lab. This value is embodied by the fact that our chairman, Augie Nieto, is a person living with ALS today and the sense of urgency that he represents is felt everyday in the lab.

    Next year, we will be moving the Institute to a larger facility. This move will allow us to accomplish several milestones that I have listed on the enclosed card. These include projects that could have long standing implications for the entire field of neurodegeneration, but specifically to accelerate drug development for ALS. This expansion of our science program is necessary and important, and we believe that it will ensure that ALS TDI is able to accelerate more of its leading candidate therapies forward with today's ALS patients in mind.

    Because of your commitment, research has advanced significantly and scientists are better armed to lead the charge and deliver promising new ammunition to patients today. I ask that you help us leap forward by making an end-of-the-year donation today. Thank you for your continued support and from our family to yours we wish you the happiest of holidays.

Warmest regards,

Steve Perrin, Ph.D.

CEO & Chief Scientific Officer