ALS Network Receives Funds From Finney Freedom Prize

Human Rights Foundation Gift in Memory of Hal Finney to Underwrite Groundbreaking Research to end ALS and other Neurodegenerative Diseases

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 29, 2024 – The ALS Network, formerly ALS Golden West, has been selected by the Finney Family to receive the monetary component of the first Finney Freedom Prize issued by the Human Rights Foundation (HRF). 

Named in honor of Hal Finney, civil liberties advocate, software developer, and one of the earliest developers of Bitcoin, the Prize was created in early 2024 to honor Finney while recognizing individuals or institutions that strive to help make Bitcoin a better tool for freedom.

“HRF is thrilled that the Finney Family has decided to use the funds earned by Hal to spark a new frontier in the fight against ALS,” said HRF chief strategy officer, Alex Gladstein. “The funds will be transferred to ALS Network on August 28, the day that Hal left this world – to us, this is deeply meaningful.”

The ALS Network will use the Finney Freedom Prize to launch the Hal Finney ALS/MND Research Fund. The fund will advance groundbreaking research related to ALS and other motor neuron diseases.

“I am very excited to witness the formation of the ALS Network’s Hal Finney ALS/MND Research Fund with support from the HRF’s Finney Freedom Prize,” said Fran Finney, widow of Hal Finney and ALS advocate. “As a repository for donations made in my husband Hal’s memory,  the fund will be fully dedicated to finding a cure for ALS/MND, a devastating cluster of diseases that tragically shorten the lives of so many people. I sincerely thank the ALS Network for creating this fund, and for enabling me to serve as a key contributor in the process of deciding which research projects to support.” 

Hal Finney was diagnosed with ALS in 2009. Fran, a licensed physical therapist, was his primary caregiver until his death in 2014 and served as a care manager for the ALS Network for many years. She now chairs the ALS Network’s global Running Bitcoin Challenge, an event she started with other fitness and Bitcoin enthusiasts from around the world, to raise awareness and funds to help find treatments and cures for ALS. 

“Fran’s dedication to the ALS community is passion personified,” said Asher Garfinkel, ALS Network VP of Community Outreach. “The ALS Network was the first ALS nonprofit organization to accept Bitcoin donations to help fund its mission, and the Human Rights Foundation’s funding in Hal’s name, along with Fran’s continued involvement through the Running Bitcoin Challenge are a fitting tribute to Hal’s memory and the urgent work to end ALS.”

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease and, internationally, as MND (Motor Neuron Disease), is a fatal, neurodegenerative illness that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. People with ALS lose the ability to move, speak, swallow, and, eventually, to breathe – all while their minds and senses continue to function.  People who have served in any branch of the military are diagnosed with ALS nearly twice as often as the general population. Currently, there are no known cures for ALS and only modestly effective treatments.

To make your own gift in Hal’s honor, please visit donate.alsnetwork.org and note the donation as a tribute gift in memory of Hal Finney. To donate Bitcoin, please visit runningbitcoin.us.

About the ALS Network

The mission of the ALS Network is to partner with the ALS community as we drive the discovery of prevention strategies, treatments, and cures for ALS; provide access to quality care and connection; and promote initiatives to improve health outcomes. The ALS Network, formerly ALS Golden West, serves people with ALS and their families throughout California and Hawaii. Everything we do advances the search for prevention strategies, effective treatments, and cures for ALS. For more information about ALS and the ALS Network please visit our website at alsnetwork.org or email us at info@alsnetwork.org. You can also find us across social media channels at @yourALSnetwork.

About the Human Rights Foundation

The Human Rights Foundation is a non-profit that promotes civil liberties globally, especially for the 5.7 billion people living under authoritarian regimes. HRF’s Financial Freedom program promotes Bitcoin as a tool for human rights. The Finney Prize was founded in 2024 and more details can be found at finneyprize.org.

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