Over 100 delegates from 26 countries across six continents gathered in Brussels for the 22nd meeting of the International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations to share initiatives and strategies for supporting people living with ALS/MND. Many International March of Faces banners adorned the room reminding us of the people living with ALS/MND around the world that we represent. This year’s March of Faces banner featured Michael Lee from NSW and Steven D’Alessio from WA.
In 2014, the worldwide social media phenomenon known as the ALS/MND Ice Bucket Challenge created global awareness of the disease and boosted the fundraising income of many member organisations. Rachel Patterson, General Manager of the Alliance, reported that Alliance members alone received a total of $164 million (USD)! As a result, the first topic of discussion at this year’s meeting was how this action began, how it spread, and what next steps the Alliance and its members could take to leverage the challenge in the future.
The Alliance meeting presentations covered a diverse range of topics aimed at sharing the work of support organisations from around the world.