The Ministry of Civil Affairs has granted 800,000 yuan ($125,600) to the Chinese Medical Doctor Association to help treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients, the Beijing News reported on Monday.

This year, the central government set aside 200 million yuan to support programs carried out by NGOs.

According to Huang Min, head of the ALS program, the fiscal grant will be spent on tools to help ALS patients in their daily lives. There is also another 150,000 yuan of donations. With the combined funds, the program will help about 1,000 ALS patients.

The association has worked on the program for eight consecutive years and helped treat about 1,500 financially challenged ALS patients, supported mainly by charity and donations.