Eric Dane Partners with Target ALS for "Ending ALS Starts With You" Campaign
MARKETINGHEALTH & BEAUTY
Actor and ALS advocate Eric Dane and Target ALS, a nonprofit breaking down barriers to ALS research, have come together to launch "Ending ALS Starts with You," a campaign to raise $500,000 for ALS research.
Known for his powerful performances on screen, actor and advocate Eric Dane is now lending his formidable presence to a deeply personal cause. Today, Dane has partnered with Target ALS, the nonprofit dedicated to accelerating effective treatments for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), to launch a critical new fundraising initiative: the "Ending ALS Starts with You" campaign.
The goal is ambitious: to raise $500,000 for ALS research before December 31. Every donation will directly power Target ALS’s innovative model, which is built to break down barriers and fast-track the development of solutions for the devastating neurodegenerative disease.
Turning Personal Tragedy into Public Urgency
Eric Dane's advocacy is rooted in his own experience. The actor revealed that he was diagnosed with ALS in November 2024. ALS is a fatal disease that affects the motor neurons, gradually causing the loss of muscle control, including the ability to walk, talk, and eventually breathe. The life expectancy after diagnosis averages only two to five years, and current treatments offer limited efficacy.
Despite the prognosis, Dane maintains a fierce determination. “I wake up every day and I'm immediately reminded that this is happening. It's not a dream. Still, I don't think this is the end of my story. I don't feel like this is the end of me,” says Dane.
His public platform is now focused entirely on channeling urgency toward research. His decision to partner with Target ALS was strategic, driven by the organization’s proven track record of accelerating progress.
An Ecosystem of Innovation
Target ALS, founded in 2013 by Dan Doctoroff (who also lives with ALS and has family history of the disease), has become the largest and most impactful private funder of ALS research. The organization works through a unique holistic approach known as the Innovation Ecosystem:
Funding the Best Ideas: Through an unbiased review process, they fund the most promising ideas from scientists worldwide.
Enabling Access: They provide researchers with access to cutting-edge scientific tools and resources.
Driving Collaboration: They facilitate cross-disciplinary collaboration among academic and industry leaders.
To date, Target ALS has invested over $80 million in research, leading to the launch of 11 clinical trials and six biotech companies. The organization's novel approach has effectively quadrupled its research budget over the last four years.
“I chose to support Target ALS because I know that this organization is making the most headway towards developing effective treatments and I want to play my part to make that possible,” Dane stated.
The "Ending ALS Starts with You" campaign calls on donors everywhere to join Dane and Target ALS this giving season to deliver hope and, one day soon, effective treatments to everyone living with the disease.