In 2024, ALS Canada continued to unite the ALS community at home and abroad in our shared mission to provide vital support and create meaningful opportunities. Through collaboration with international partners and our ongoing efforts within Canada, we continue to provide resources and foster connections that positively impact the lives of individuals affected by ALS.
Sharing knowledge, strengthening care: A global partnership expands ALS support
Grief is a deeply personal experience, but can also be a shared journey. For people mourning the loss of a loved one from ALS, compassionate, community-based support can bring healing and resilience. In 2024, a collaboration between ALS Canada and MND Scotland helped extend that support beyond borders and strengthened both organizations’ offerings.
The partnership began in December 2023, when ALS Canada’s Vice-President of Community Services, Kim Barry, and Director of Community Services, Sarah McGuire, presented at the ALS/MND Alliance Conference in San Diego. They shared insights into ALS Canada’s support groups and a new, structured seven-week bereavement workshop that is already showing meaningful results.
The presentation sparked interest from many, including Angela Harris, Director of Support Development at MND Scotland. Recognizing the need for similar grief support in her community, she invited ALS Canada to co-lead a pilot group with Scottish participants. Sarah and colleague Joanna Oachis, an ALS Canada Community Lead, facilitated the sessions between February and March while MND Scotland staff observed and trained. By mid-year, MND Scotland launched their own adapted version of the program, with Sarah continuing as a co-facilitator into 2025.
Back in Canada, the partnership helped shape the continued evolution of ALS Canada’s bereavement workshops. Insights gained from co-facilitating with MND Scotland and ongoing participant feedback have led to new refinements that enhanced the experience for future groups.
“This collaboration has been a powerful reminder of how much we can learn from one another,” said Sarah. “Each time we facilitate a group, whether in Canada or Scotland, we learn something new. That ongoing exchange strengthens our work and ensures we’re meeting people where they are in their grief.”
The impact of this shared approach is evident in the words of one Scottish participant: “I didn’t know until I took the workshop that I didn’t need to stop grieving to start living.”
With growing interest from other ALS organizations, the model continues to gain traction as a promising framework for grief support. Through shared learning and professional mentorship, ALS Canada is helping strengthen care at home and worldwide.
United in legacy with the ALS Canada Kevin Daly Bursary
An ALS diagnosis can reshape dreams and introduce new challenges, particularly for young people living with the impact of the disease. Yet, despite adversity, the strength, compassion, and hope within the ALS community continue to shine.
In 2024, the ALS Canada Kevin Daly Bursary was awarded for the second year to four post-secondary students: Emma Heaney, Tristan Hopkins, Alexandra McLaren, and Zachary Wood. Each received a $2,500 bursary to support their educational goals. Their journeys, shaped by personal experiences with ALS, have inspired careers in occupational therapy, law, medicine, and engineering. With support from TELUS employees and other generous donors, the bursary has now helped seven students across Canada pursue their aspirations.
“I am deeply appreciative of the generosity of the Daly family and ALS Canada to financially support me on my journey to becoming a neurologist, a specialty that is near and dear to my heart,” said Alexandra McLaren. “I was honoured to receive this bursary in recognition of my resilience, and I feel empowered to follow my dreams with confidence. The kindness of the Daly family is inspirational, and I hope to one day help students achieve their goals and alleviate financial burdens just as they have helped me.”
Kevin Daly established the bursary to recognize the sacrifices made by young people in supporting loved ones living with ALS. His goal was to reduce barriers and help them pursue their dreams despite extraordinary challenges.
In November 2024, Kevin passed away from ALS. His legacy lives on through the bursary, and ALS Canada is proud to continue his work alongside his wife, Elena, and daughters, Erica and Allison, ensuring Kevin’s vision of empowering young people endures.