CVS/pharmacy knocks one out of the park with fundraising efforts for ALS

WOONSOCKET, R.I. CVS/pharmacy announced on Friday that it has raised $4.4 million through its annual in-store fundraising campaign for ALS research during the month of June.

This year’s fundraiser, which ran from June 7 to 27, marked the eighth year of the annual fundraising effort. To date, it has raised $19.3 million for ALS research, $1 at a time.

“Each year, we are amazed and grateful for the incredible support CVS/pharmacy customers demonstrate for ALS research,”stated Jonathan Roberts, EVP CVS Caremark, who also served as an honorary chair of this year’s fundraising campaign. “The $19.3 million our dedicated customers have raised, $1 at a time, helps further research into this devastating disease. We hope that today’s check presentation shows how those individual contributions really make a big impact.”

The funds raised from the campaign will be donated to the ALS Therapy Alliance, which was founded in 2000 to coordinate research related to ALS.

ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a disorder in which there is progressive degeneration of motor nerves in the brain and spinal cord leading to paralysis and death, typically within three to five years. There is no known cause or cure for ALS, which affects 25,000 Americans, with 5,000 new cases diagnosed each year.

The official check presentation will take place prior to the Boston Red Sox versus Yankees game at Fenway Park Friday evening with Tom Ryan, chairman, president and CEO CVS Caremark, participating in the presentation along with Roberts, Troy Brennan, M.D., M.P.H., EVP and chief medical officer of CVS Caremark.