By Former AEW star Tanea Brooks, known to wrestling fans as “Rebel,” has been named the first-ever honorary member of the I AM ALS Board of Directors — a landmark recognition of her advocacy since publicly sharing her ALS diagnosis earlier this year.
Tanea “Rebel” Brooks (Credits: Fightful)
A Historic Appointment Following ACT for ALS Win
The announcement, first reported by The Takedown on Sports Illustrated, comes just weeks after the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Reauthorization Act of 2026 — known as ACT for ALS — extending the landmark law through fiscal year 2031. Brooks, who joined I AM ALS as an official Ambassador in June 2026 just weeks after revealing her diagnosis, was credited as instrumental in rallying support to get the bill across the finish line.
As an honorary board member, Brooks will continue to use her story and platform to support I AM ALS’s mission, urging fans nationwide to take action for people living with ALS. In her own words: “Advocacy for ALS is a major priority in my battle, and I plan to continue to fight the good fight with I AM ALS to find a cure and help others get access to treatment.”
From Ring Announcer to ALS Advocate
Since her diagnosis, Brooks has turned her platform into a powerful force for the ALS community. She launched a call-to-action PSA asking fans to “step into the ring with I AM ALS,” personally rallied supporters to sign the petition urging Congress to reauthorize ACT for ALS, and inspired charity efforts including AEW’s Rebel Heart-branded merchandise — a shirt, bracelet, and Rebel Micro Brawler figure with proceeds benefiting I AM ALS and Team Gleason — plus a limited-edition Upper Deck trading card.
On September 9, AEW Rebel Heart Dynamite aired live on TBS and HBO Max from Akins Ford Arena in Athens, Georgia, honoring Brooks and raising funds for both organizations. I AM ALS CEO Andrea Goodman praised Brooks for turning “a devastating moment into immediate action,” noting she uses “her platform, humor, vulnerability and unwavering honesty to make people pay attention, and take action.”
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Source: Fightful — read the full story there.
