Ex-Mass. Gov. with ALS raising funds for research

BOSTON (AP) - Former Republican Governors Paul Cellucci and William Weld, once partners in running state government, have joined forces to raise money for research into Lou Gehrig's Disease at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center.

Cellucci disclosed last year he had the disease. He appeared at a fundraiser Thursday to help announce a $500,000 gift from Biogen Idec to the UMass/ALS Champion Fund.

Cellucci now uses a wheelchair, but said he was fortunate to have a slow-progressing form of the disease, also known as ALS. He sat next to Weld, who he served with as lieutenant governor before taking over as governor in 1997.

The gift brings the fund to $1.3 million, with an eventual goal of $10 million.

U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, Democratic Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray and former acting Gov. Jane Swift also attended the fundraiser.