Queen B Foundation

ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), also commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, is a neurodegenerative disease that attacks the cells in the body that control movement. It interrupts the brain's communication with the muscles, causing increased paralysis over time. Ultimately, ALS patients become prisoners within their own bodies, unable to eat, breathe, or move on their own. Their minds, however, often remain sharp so they are aware of what is happening.

Today, ALS is still a fatal disease and patients typically live for three to five years after their diagnosis. Scientists have yet to identify a cure, but the recent acceleration of research has ensured this will change. It is not a question of if, but when, there will be a significant breakthrough that brings a cure within reach. 

The primary beneficiary of the Queen B Foundation is the Ozdinler ALS Research Lab at the Northwestern School of Medicine in Chicago, IL. The lab is headed up by P. Hande Ozdiner, PhD. She has made remarkable discoveries in a career that has been dedicated to ALS research. Dr. Ozdinler was the first high-profile ALS researcher in the world to identify the importance of studying the mechanisms for deterioration of upper motor neurons in ALS patients, which study has now become one of the essential areas for focus among ALS researchers worldwide. Further, Dr. Ozdinler’s ALS research is done collaboratively with other research centers around the world. In December of 2018, the Ellen McConnell Blakeman ALS Research Fellowship was born- the Ellen Fellow for short. Funding this fellowship is the primary beneficiary of not only the Queen B Foundation but also A Long Swim.  

Survive The Hive is the Queen B Foundation’s signature charity putting challenge, created in honor of Ellen McConnell Blakeman, who lost her battle with ALS in 2018. Ellen loved two things deeply: gathering people together for a good time and playing golf with friends. To celebrate her legacy, her sons Bennett and Brenten built an event that blends both—fun competition on the green and meaningful fundraising for ALS awareness and research.

Since the inaugural Queen B Golf Outing in 2021, Survive The Hive has grown into a premier community event, bringing people together to raise vital funds for ALS of Arizona. Hosted now in Scottsdale, Arizona—where the Blakeman brothers reside—the event continues to unite golfers, families, and supporters who share the mission of honoring Ellen’s memory and helping fight ALS.

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