I am part of a committee in the town of Middleborough, MA that is trying to get the word out to people that may have lived in this town at one point that now lives with this disease. Years ago there were several manufacturers using chemicals along a two mile stretch of railroad tracks that we believe may link the two together. The companies that used to exist along the tracks used dyes for shoe making and other chemicals used in electroplating and foundries. Over the past few decades there have been an enormous (27) amount of people who have passed away from ALS and we believe this is more than a coincidence. There are also high levels of MS and Cancer along the same path where the town has several streams and drinking wells. We are starting to get national attention and a lot of studies have been done but we need more information to link the diseases together so maybe someday there will be a cure.
If anyone knows somebody who lived in the town of Middleborough from 1960-Today then we would like to know.
Here are some articles that appeared recently in several news groups:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/art...gs_raise_flag/

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/...92/1010/TOWN09

http://www.rideforlife.com/archives/000906.html

Here’s one from the New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/07/us/07middle.html

Wally Glendye
waglendye@yahoo.com