Raising money for ALS

The New York Rat Pack entertained.

Penny Frondelli/Herald

ALS director of marketing and special events Kristen Cocoman.

Penny Frondelli/Herald

Mike Byrne Jr. speaks about a new drug called GM604 that shows results in ALS patients. Brother Ryan in back.

Penny Frondelli/Herald

Anita Bachrach from Douglas Elliman in Merrick and Honoree Mike Byrne from Merrick diagnosed one year ago with suggestive “sporadic” ALS at the LIBOR dinner held at Bridgeview Yacht Club.

Penny Frondelli/Herald

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Members of the Long Island Board of Realtors, from all over the south shore, came to Bridgeview in Island Park May 19, to meet, greet and raise funds for ALS research. Michael Scully of Century 21 Island Park, Camille Giardina and Juan Jara of All Star in Oceanside and Pat and Mac Levitt of Century 21 Mac Levitt in Oceanside are some of local realtors who attended.

ALS, or amyotrophic laterals sclerosis, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Knows as Lou Gehrig’s disease, it does not allow the nourishment of muscle tissue. Without nourishment they atrophy and die, and the person loses the ability to control their muscles. People may lose the ability to speak, eat, and move or breath. There is a new drug being tested that shows promise. Food and Drug Administration has accelerated approval of Genervon’s GM604 for use in ALS. Information on the new drug is available here: http://chn.ge/1BLOdsT.

The dinner brought in about $6,000 for the honoree, Michael Byrne, and ALS, according to real estate agent Gloria Rabson, president of the Douglas Elliman Chapter of LIBOR.