Emerson Phillips
John Driskell Hopkins – a founding member of the Zac Brown Band – revealed he’s been diagnosed with ALS.
He stood alongside bandmates from the country music group during a short video shared to the band’s YouTube account.
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You can watch it here, if you like, or the quotes are below:
“I have tough news to share, and my brothers and sister have gathered to support me,” he said in the minute-long clip, which was also posted on the band’s Twitter account. “Over the past several years, I’ve noticed some balance issues and some stiffness in my hands. After careful analysis by some of the country’s top neurologists, I have been diagnosed with ALS. Because my symptoms have been slow progressing form the start, we believe they will continue to be slow progressing going forward. God willing, I plan to be rocking with these amazing people for many years to come.”
Hopkins, 51, has focused on the bass guitar but has played a variety of instruments for the band, in addition to being a powerful vocalist and lyricist since the band’s inception in 2002.
“The technology and research around ALS treatments has been advancing, but we still don’t have a cure. Thanks so much for your prayers and helping us cure ALS,” lead singer Zac Brown added.
The video ended with the band promoting the #HopOnACure program, a nonprofit founded by Hopkins to benefit finding a cure and providing treatment plans and recovery efforts for survivors.
