Walking to make ALS a treatable disease

NEWS RELEASE
ALS SOCIETY OF CANADA
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Sharon Carson, who was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) 25 years ago, will be leading the Walk for ALS on Saturday, June 2, 2018. It is a cause that is very important to her.

“I want everyone to know just what the impact of the disease is to the individual and to family members,” says Sharon. “Treatment is needed to make ALS a treatable, non-terminal disease. And the only way to do that is through research. By raising money for ALS research, we can help find a treatment that will bring advancements in the treatment of this disease.” 

Each day, two to three people die from ALS, with a similar number diagnosed – meaning that at any one time, approximately 3,000 Canadians are living with ALS. And once diagnosed, the cost of the disease to the average family is between $150,000 to $250,000 – an amount that can include the expense of specialized equipment to help people maintain their mobility as the disease progresses, as well as lost income while family members take leave from their employment to care for their loved one.

As the primary fundraising event for ALS in the region, proceeds from the Sault Ste. Marie Walk for ALS enable ALS Canada to provide services and support for people living with ALS as well as fund Canadian research with the greatest potential to make ALS a treatable, not terminal disease.

This year, close to 200 walk participants are expected to help raise $20,000 for the Sault Ste. Marie walk. Last year, the Walk for ALS events that took place across the country raised more than $4 million.

Tracy Galizia, the new regional manager for the ALS Society of Canada in Sault Ste. Marie, knows full well the impact of the disease on family, having lost her father last year from ALS. “There is no cure for the disease,” says Tracy.  “It not only has a debilitating effect for the person with the disease but for the family as well.”

The Walk for ALS is a volunteer-led, community fundraising event that brings Canadians together to help create a future without ALS.  The family-friendly event will also include refreshments, a kid’s zone, a pet-friendly area and a barbecue. Local dignitaries are also expected to be present.

Details for the Sault Ste. Marie Walk for ALS are:      

When:        Saturday, June 2, 2018

Where:       The Roberta Bondar Park -  65 Foster Dr., Sault Ste. Marie

Time:          Registration: 10 a.m.

                   Start of walk: 11 a.m.

Distance:   1k to 5 km (distance of the participant’s choosing)

Who:          Approximately 200 participants showing their support for people and families living with ALS, and for research for a future without ALS.

What is ALS?

ALS, which stands for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a brutal and unforgiving disease with no cure. It gradually paralyzes people because the brain is no longer able to communicate with the muscles of the body that we are typically able to move at will. Over time, as the muscles of the body break down, someone living with ALS will lose the ability to walk, talk, eat, swallow, and eventually breathe. Approximately 1,000 Canadians are diagnosed with ALS each year and 80 per cent of them die within two to five years.

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