Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God with liberty and justice for all WP4D.

Welcome everyone.

In accordance with section 841412 of the Nebraska Revised Statutes, a current copy of the Open Meetings Act, is available for review and is posted on the wall of the council chambers.

Peggy, please take a role.

Mayor Nicolette.

Here Bush Ketters Moore.

We have two of them, and then we have a third that we're gonna discuss not a proclamation, but uh a brief comment about something coming up in our agenda.

So I'm gonna what we do for this for those that are involved here, uh, we read uh usually the proclamation and then ask the folks related to the proclamation come up if they want to talk a little more about their uh the cause that they're representing, and then we'll take a photo and move on to the next one.

Fair.

So the first one we're gonna read is uh for ALS Awareness Month.

So if the folks involved with that would like to come to the podium, so I'll read our proclamation.

Um the hardest word is right in the phrase.

Whereas no, that's one's easy, it's the next one.

Whereas amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive, fatal neurodegenerative disease in which a person's brain loses connection with their muscles, slowly reducing a person's ability to walk, talk, eat, and eventually breathe.

And whereas thousands of new amyotrophic trophic lateral sclerosis cases are reported every year, and estimates show that every 90 minutes someone is is diagnosed with ALS and someone passes away from ALS.

And whereas on average, patients diagnosed with ALS survive only two to five years from the time of diagnosis, and whereas the exact causes of ALS are unknown, and there's no known known cure for ALS, and whereas people have served in the military are more likely to develop ALS and desire from the disease than those with no history of military service, and whereas securing access to new therapies, durable medical equipment, and communication technologies is a vital importance to people living with ALS, and whereas clinical trials play a pivotal role in evaluating new treatment, treatments, enhancing quality of life, and fostering assistive technologies for those living with ALS, and whereas the ALS Foundation is the largest philanthropic funder of ALS research globally and has committed more than 154 million dollars to support more than 550 projects across the United States and 18 other countries, and whereas the ALS Association is committed to making ALS livable and cure it for everyone, everywhere, and whereas amniotrophic lateral sclerosis awareness month provides an opportunity to increase public awareness of the dire circumstances of people living with ALS, acknowledge the terrible impact of this this disease has on those individuals and their families and support research to eradicate this disease.

Therefore, be it resolved that on behalf of the citizens of Kearney, we do hereby proclaim the fourth or the month of May 2026 as ALS Awareness Month and call upon all Americans to join in supporting ALS research, advocating for increased funding, and standing in solidarity with those affected by this relentless disease.

But thank you.

Sure.

Yeah.

Well, thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak tonight.

My name is Ryan Hack.

I'm here to share my support of the City Council's proclamation to recognize ALS Awareness Month.

ALS is a devastating disease that affects not only persons diagnosed, but their families, their friends, their caregivers, and their entire community.

For me, this is deeply personal.

My brother has ALS, my mom battled ALS, and I have a close friend that is currently living with ALS.

When ALS touches your life, you see firsthand how relentless the disease is.

You see the strength that it takes for someone to keep fighting.

You see the courage of the families who show up every day, and you see the incredible work done by caregivers, health care providers, researchers, organizations that support people living with ALS.

That is why I'm grateful that the City of Carney has accepted and stated the proclamation recognized by making ALS the month of May, the awareness month.

This proclamation helps educate the public about the realities of the disease.

It honors individuals and families who are living with ALS.

It recognizes caregivers, health care providers who give so much of themselves, and it shows that our community stands in solidarity with the uh with the fight against ALS.

I want to encourage people in our community to get involved.

Um that means maybe donating through organizations such as ALS.org or ALS and the Heartland.org.

Um it could be advocating for more ALS research or funding nationally, or it could simply be taking the time to thank and support the caregivers who walk beside ALS patients every day.

ALS can make people feel very isolated, but awareness reminds families that we are not alone.

Um thank you for your time.

Thank you for everything that you do to bring more attention and support to those impacted by ALS.

Um, we are so fortunate to live in such a wonderful community here in Kearney, Nebraska.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ryan.

Thanks.

Thanks, Ryan.

Thanks for taking leadership in this fight.

Is anyone else have any questions for Ryan?

No.

No, would you like a photo with the proclamation?

Sure.

Okay, let's do it.

Yeah, that's fine.

All right, and you want to get in the middle here?

Awesome.

Oh, oh, sorry.

Okay, one, two, three.

Perfect.

Thank you.

Yeah.

Thank you.