Paul Cellucci, former Governer of the Massachusetts and ambassador to Canada, spoke to The Boston Globe last week about his efforts to raise funds for the amytrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) research center at the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Medical School in Worcester.

Until now, Cellucci, who made his diagnosis public in January, has opted to keep his battle with the disease private.

"My wife Jan and I confirm that I have been diagnosed with a slow case of ALS, Lou Gherig's disease," Cellucci said in a statement that was released to the press. "Other than this statement, Jan and I choose not to discuss this further and ask that our privacy be respected."

Cellucci has been experiencing symptoms of the disease for four years, including lack of mobility and muscle weakness. The 63-year-old Cellucci hopes that speaking openly about his experience with ALS will aid him in creating a $10 million endowment to support Dr. Robert H. Brown's research at UMass, and believes that he will see significant advances in ALS research in his lifetime.

The ALS Association provides a list of doctors certified to treat the condition to aid individuals in finding a physician who is covered by their health insurance, according to the organization's website. At present, the disease has no known cause or cure.