Dutch Bros Coffee is hosting their 13th annual fundraiser for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) this Friday, May 10th, 2019. It’s called “Drink One for Dane” in honor of Dane Boersma, cofounder of the company and sadly, a victim of ALS.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a rare neurological disease that affects around 4 out of every 100,000 people in the U.S. It’s cause is unknown and it has no cure. Essentially, those with ALS face a progressive loss of muscle caused by the death of nerve cells within the brain, brain stem, and spinal cord. Symptoms include muscle twitching, difficulty holding objects, tripping, slowed speech, difficulty speaking, and weakness in the limbs.
Treatment for ALS focuses on minimizing the effects of symptoms. It might include speech therapy, physical therapy, pain medication, anxiety/depression medication, ventilation support, or nutritional support. Most patients sadly pass away from the condition due to respiratory failure.
However, thanks to organizations like Dutch Bros Coffee, researchers are making progress in the search for a cure.
Dutch Bros Coffee
Dutch Bros Coffee was founded in 1992 by brothers Travis and Dane Boersma. It is actually the largest privately owned drive-through coffee company in the United States. They are headquartered in Oregon but have over 330 locations in 7 states and employ around 10,000 individuals.
In addition to making great coffee for over 15 years, they’ve also been just as dedicated to giving back to the community. Every year they’ve donated millions of dollars to various causes, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis research.
Drink One for Dane
Drink One for Dane began the same year Dane was diagnosed with the disease, 2007. He lived just two years following his ALS diagnosis, but Dutch Bros is proud to continue his legacy through this campaign. It is a way to not only spread awareness for ALS, but it also supports the search for a cure for this disease.
Revenue made on Friday from every single one of their locations will be donated to the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Their goal is to raise 1.5 million dollars for ALS research. Since Drink One for Dane began in 2007, they’ve donated over 4.8 million dollars. This money goes directly to the MDA where it helps accelerate research for a cure, and supports the organization’s ALS-designated multidisciplinary care centers.
Celebrities including Marcus Mariota, Macklemore, Von Miller, and Kyle Rudolph are helping to spread awareness of this initiative.
Don’t have a Dutch Bros location near you? Not to worry. This year Dutch Bros has provided a link on their website where customers can donate directly to the fundraiser. To contribute, visit the Dutch Bros website.
Muscular Dystrophy Association
The Muscular Dystrophy Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting those affected by ALS, muscular dystrophy, and other neuromuscular conditions. Besides the U.S. government, they are the greatest funders of neuromuscular disease research. So far, they’ve put over 1 billion dollars into the search for a cure. The MDA is also a major supporter of multidisciplinary ALS clinics across the country.
Besides funding research they’ve created a Resource Center to provide patient support, they host educational conferences/events, they provide educational materials to both patients and their doctors, and they host free young adult summer camps/recreational programs.
