Actor Eric Dane pushes for ALS research: Not ‘the end of my story’
Campaign with Target ALS aims to raise $500,000 by Dec. 31
- Actor Eric Dane and Target ALS launched a campaign to raise $500,000 for ALS research.
- ALS is a progressive nerve disease; early diagnosis and research are crucial for effective treatments.
- Target ALS funds collaborative research to transform ALS from a fatal to a manageable disease.
Actor Eric Dane is teaming up with Target ALS on a campaign to raise $500,000 by Dec. 31 to advance research on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Dane, who was diagnosed with ALS last year, has become a strong advocate for research. He portrayed a character with ALS on the NBC drama series “Brilliant Minds.”
“I chose to support Target ALS because I know that this organization is making the most headway towards developing effective treatments and I want to play my part to make that possible,” Dane said in a press release from the nonprofit.
ALS is a progressive disease that damages nerve cells connecting the brain to the spinal cord and the spinal cord to muscles, leading to muscle weakness and other ALS symptoms, such as difficulty speaking, swallowing, and breathing. Early diagnosis and research are crucial for better treatment options.
“I wake up every day and I’m immediately reminded that this is happening,” Dane, who is known for his roles on “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Euphoria,” said. “It’s not a dream. Still, I don’t think this is the end of my story. I don’t feel like this is the end of me.”
‘A world where everyone with ALS lives’
After receiving his diagnosis, Dane connected with Dan Doctoroff, who founded Target ALS after losing his father and uncle to the disease and was diagnosed himself in 2021. Under Doctoroff, Target ALS has become the largest private funder in the disease’s research landscape, investing more than $80 million to date.
“I founded Target ALS in 2013 with a clear vision: to build a world where everyone with ALS lives,” said Doctoroff, former deputy mayor of New York. “I’m grateful that Eric believes in that vision and has joined us to make it a reality.”
The foundation has supported more than 1,700 projects worldwide, funded 750 research grants, and helped launch 11 clinical studies and six biotechnology companies. Its approach focuses on collaboration, granting access to resources, and conducting its own studies through the ALS Global Research Initiative.
While progress has been made, advancing collaborative research on ALS still depends on donations. The new campaign, “Ending ALS Starts with You,” aims to help power Target ALS’s model to accelerate the development of treatments.
“Target ALS aims to transform ALS from a fatal disease into a manageable disease, building a world where Everyone Lives,” the nonprofit said.
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