2nd Annual Gala of Hope

The second Annual Gala of Hope took place on Friday, January 26, 2018 at Water Works in Philadelphia. Thank you to all of our friends and supporters who came out to mark the first anniversary of our move to Temple Health. 

Dr. Terry Heiman-Patterson welcomed our guests for the evening's main program. She noted how well the MDA/ALS Center of Hope has settled into its home at Temple Health and thanked representatives from Temple and MDA for making the transition run smoothly. She also thanked this year's  sponsors: Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, PatientslikeMe, InfuCareRx, Ramona and Frank Gwynn and Soleo Health. 

After dinner, the program began with remarks from Ken Slavik, Family Care Specialist at the Muscular Dystrophy Association.  Slavik noted that collaboration and cooperation are the keys to providing for the care and cure of people with ALS. 

Dr. Paul Katz, Acting Chairman of the Department of Neurology at Temple Health, remarked on Dr. Terry Heiman-Patterson's valuable contributions in the field of neurology, ALS research and collaboration on the national and international level. He is delighted that Dr. Heiman-Patterson, as well as Dr. Deboo and Dr. Kwan, have joined the Temple Health team and are making a difference in the lives of PALS and their families. 

Our final speaker of the evening was H. Todd Kelly, a person living with ALS. Kelly began by reciting a poem by Adam Lindsay Gordon: 

“Life is mostly froth and bubble,
Two things stand like stone.
Kindness in another's trouble,
Courage in your own.”

He said it is easy to get caught up in daily life: "When all this is swept away, what sustains us is kindness and courage." We cannot thank Mr. Kelly enough for sharing his story with us. Please watch his full length speech on our YouTube channel. 

This year's event raised over $50,000 to support the MDA/ALS Center of Hope! We are honored to have such wonderful supporters in our corner. Each year we are reminded just how remarkable it is to have so many people keeping Hope on the Horizon. 
 

Photos from the event can be viewed here.