ALS Malta collects €50,000 in its first five months

An NGO dedicated to raising awareness and offering support to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) sufferers in Malta has raised an impressive €50,000 since it was founded in August this year.

In an interview on today’s edition of Illum, Bjorn Formosa opened up about his battle against the degenerative illness, and speaking in inspiring and brave tones, he asserted his determination to keep raising awareness about the condition.

The funds, he says are all going into further research into the illness, which according to the interview, has struck some 50 people locally in the past year.

“The number is probably higher,” Formosa said. “The symptoms aren’t clear and it can be hard to identify the condition.”

Formosa explained that his diagnosis in August had inspired him to found the organisation to serve as a point of reference for sufferers who had nowhere to turn to for support in the past.

In his comments to Illum, Formosa said that he started visiting doctors back in February, after he started having difficulty moving his limbs, but that very small symptoms were already perceptible in August 2014.

“My official diagnosis came in August, but I had already prepared myself psychologically,” he said, explaining that he had researched the symptoms.

“You never think something so rare is going to affect you or your loved ones,” he said, recalling how he used to think of the illness as a distant concept.

Ever since he was diagnosed with the illness in August, Formosa has already lost his ability to walk long distances. Formosa added however, that although he was afraid of losing control of his limbs completely, he was aware that there were solutions like special wheelchairs to allow him to at least enjoy the outside world.

“Giving up can’t help, at least try and enjoy your last days with a positive spirit,” Formosa said.

Speaking about life before the illness, Formosa said that he used to enjoy practising sport and that he had a job in the gaming industry.

“I had very different priorities like commitments and deadlines, but once I got my diagnosis, money and success became secondary,” he said.

“Although it has been a trying one, this has been the best year of my life so far,” he said, explaining that he had met many new people and learned what truly mattered as a result of the condition.

Formosa was awarded the Gieh ir-Repubblika award on Republic Day this year for his contribution to ALS patients.