VANCOUVER, Wash. USA April 12, 2013 – nLIGHT Corporation (nLIGHT) today announced its employees raised $1,000 in just one hour to help support the fight against ALS. The fundraiser featured sumo wrestling championship among employees, and resulted in an energetic event supporting a great cause. nLIGHT has raised $3,900 to date with an annual goal of $5,000.
Over 5,600 people in the United States are diagnosed with ALS each year, and as many as 30,000 Americans have the disease at any given time. Often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, fatal neuromuscular disease that slowly robs the body of its ability to walk, speak, move, swallow and eventually, breathe. From the point of diagnosis, the life expectancy of a person living with ALS is two to five years.Every 90 minutes someone is diagnosed with ALS and every 90 minutes, we lose someone to this dreadful disease.
“The ALS Association Oregon and SW Washington Chapter depends solely on the generosity of the community and receives no government or insurance funding,” said Aubrey McCauley, Development Director for The ALS Association Oregon and SW Washington Chapter. “It is so uplifting when companies such as nLIGHT rally in support of the fight against Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Their creativity and energy inspires the ALS community and reminds them that they are not alone. nLIGHT is walking the walk when it comes to rolling up their sleeves and supporting the local community – all while having a really fun time doing it.”
The event would not have been as successful without the kind donations of Parties, Inc., Acorn Marketing, Frito Lay and Franz Bakery.
About nLIGHT Corporation
nLIGHT is a leading supplier of high-performance lasers which enable innovations in advanced materials processing, defense, and medical applications. nLIGHT develops and manufactures diode lasers, fiber, and fiber lasers, based on proprietary semiconductor lasers and optical fiber technology. For more information see www.nLIGHT.net
About the ALS Association Oregon and SW Washington Chapter
The ALS Association Oregon and SW Washington Chapter is part of a national network of chapters, providing compassionate and coordinated care and support to those living with ALS. Services range from one-on-one consultations with licensed social workers and an assistive technology specialist, to support groups for families and caregivers. The chapter has developed a partnership with Providence Health and Services and The Oregon Clinic to create the Providence ALS Center - a multidisciplinary clinic where people with ALS spend one visit with a wide range of specialists who end their day with a communicated plan. This allows for a proactive rather than reactive approach to learning how to live with ALS and can extend life expectancy. The list of services and accomplishments is long, but also includes other multi-disciplinary clinics in the region, funding for respite care grants, medical equipment loan closets, augmentative communication program, caregiving support and advancements in public policy and international research. All of the local services are provided for no cost to each and every family served. For more information see www.alsa-or.org
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Contact: Kelsey Knecht, 503.805.9953, kelsey.knecht@nlight.net