LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Debra Quinn upon the occasion of her
designation as recipient of the New York State Senate Liberty Medal

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize those
citizens who merit special commendation for exceptional, heroic or huma-
nitarian acts and achievements on behalf of their fellow New Yorkers;
and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, this Legislative Body is justly
proud to honor Debra Quinn upon the occasion of her designation as
recipient of the New York State Senate Liberty Medal for her advocacy on
behalf of other citizens of this great Empire State; and
WHEREAS, Debra Quinn has tirelessly advocated on behalf of individuals
living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's
disease; and
WHEREAS, Debra Quinn began her work in educating the public about ALS
and her advocacy on behalf of people with ALS, following the loss of her
sister to the disease in 2007; prior to the passing of her sister, she
had witnessed the loss of a great aunt, an aunt, her father and her
grandmother to ALS; and
WHEREAS, Diagnosed with ALS in 2009, Debra Quinn has familial ALS, a
form of the disease affecting 5-10% of ALS patients; through research,
she has found more than twenty ancestors through 13 generations who were
afflicted with ALS; and
WHEREAS, Dedicated to creating awareness, Debra Quinn remains active
in the Western New York region, sharing her story about ALS and relating
the physical, emotional and financial struggles that the disease brings
to patients and their families; and
WHEREAS, Debra Quinn works closely with the ALS Association's Roches-
ter chapter to generate awareness of the disease; her team raised a
substantial amount in the 2010 Walk to Defeat ALS fundraising event; the
funds generated are used to sustain patient care and support research to
find a cure for the disease; and
WHEREAS, A dedicated advocate, Debra Quinn works with local, state,
and federal legislators to educate them on the financial impact of the
disease on families and to promote policies that provide help for
patients and caregivers in accessing services; and
WHEREAS, In 2011, Debra Quinn participated in the Association's
National ALS Advocacy Day and Public Policy Conference in Washington,
DC, as a presenter for a breakout session about familial ALS during the
conference; and
WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to publicly recog-
nize and honor citizens who dedicate themselves to advocating for their
neighbors in this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Debra Quinn upon the occasion of her designation as recipient of
the New York State Senate Liberty Medal for her advocacy on behalf of
other citizens of this great Empire State as well as for her humanitari-
an actions and achievements on behalf of people with ALS; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Debra Quinn.