ACCESS HOLLYWOOD'S O'DELL TEAMS WITH MDA ALS DIVISION
Mother’s Battle Leads Her to the World Leader
in ALS Research, Services
TUCSON, Ariz., May 9, 2008 – Popular newsmagazine show host Nancy O'Dell has joined MDA's efforts to find treatments and a cure for ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Lou Gehrig's disease).
O'Dell's mother, Betty, 74, was diagnosed with ALS in November 2007 and has been attending an MDA/ALS Center.
"It's a race against time for my mom and our family and we are going to do everything in our power to fight this disease" Nancy said. "I know I need to use the national podium I have and talk about my personal situation in order to increase ALS awareness and research funding, with the hopes of finding a cure as fast as possible."
O'Dell is currently in her 12th season with "Access Hollywood" and has been the show's co-host since 1999. She went public about her mother's condition and announced her involvement with MDA at the beginning of May, which is designated as national ALS Awareness Month. She kick started her fight against ALS with a generous donation from Pure and Natural. The eco-friendly company made the donation in honor of Nancy's mother.
"Nancy and her family are now a part of the MDA family, and together we'll work diligently to help find a cure for ALS," MDA National Chairman Jerry Lewis said.
MDA is the world leader in providing health care services for people with ALS, and in funding research that seeks treatments and a cure for the disease and some 40 related diseases. The Association supports 225 hospital-affiliated MDA clinics across the country, of which 38 are designated MDA/ALS centers.
Since 1950, MDA has allocated more than $230 million for ALS research and services, and the Association is currently funding ALS research projects totaling nearly $30 million.
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