Welcome to The Busby Foundation
Austin, Texas
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About the Foundation

Our Mission

The Busby Foundation empowers Central Texas ALS patients and their families by providing support and assistance in an effort to comfort them and address the overwhelming demands and lifestyle changes that come with the disease.

The History

The Busby Foundation was created in November 2001 by friends and colleagues of the late Bo Busby to honor his life and legacy. Bo courageously fought ALS and yet still helped other, less fortunate fellow ALS patients and their families by providing assistance in many ways. It is in that spirit that we continue to serve other Central Texas families touched by this tragic disease.

The Board of Directors

The Busby Foundation thrives due to the efforts of countless dedicated volunteers. However, none of our work would be possible without our distinguished Board of Directors. Each member has worked tirelessly for the betterment of the Foundation. Click here for list.

What is ALS

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (sometimes called Lou Gehrig’s disease) is a progressive, usually fatal disease caused by the degeneration of the nerve cells in the central nervous system that control voluntary muscle movement.

Lou Gehrig, with whom ALS is most commonly associated, first brought national and international attention to the disease back in 1939 when he abruptly retired from professional baseball after being diagnosed with ALS.  To learn more about Lou Gehrig, visit www.lougehrig.com.

Although the cause of ALS is not completely understood, there is a wealth of new scientific understanding about the physiology of this disease, and a growing volume of information on the Internet for ALS families.  Questions and answers about coping with the disease are available at the ALS Association website.

Facts you should know about ALS:

  • Approximately 6,400 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with ALS each year.
  • The average age of people who are diagnosed with ALS is between 55 and 65.
  • Military veterans are approximately twice as likely to develop ALS.
  • While the average survival time is 3 years, about twenty percent of people with ALS live five years, 10 percent will survive ten years and five percent will live 20 years or more.
  • ALS occurs throughout the world with no racial, ethnic or socioeconomic boundaries and can affect anyone.
  • It is estimated that more than 20,000 Americans may be living with ALS at any given time.