ALS Canada Kevin Daly Bursary is now accepting applications for post-secondary students affected by ALS

Now in its second year, the ALS Society of Canada (ALS Canada), along with Kevin Daly’s friends and colleagues, welcome applications to the post-secondary ALS Canada Kevin Daly Bursary. The $2,500 bursary will be awarded to a post-secondary student whose life has been touched by ALS, a testament to the collective support and care for members of the ALS community.

In 2023, the Kevin Daly Bursary Fund was established to honour Kevin, a devoted father and husband, who received an ALS diagnosis in 2020. Inspired by Kevin’s courage and dedication, the bursary is designed to alleviate some of the burden experienced by students pursuing post-secondary education.

“ALS Canada is grateful to once again partner with Kevin, his family, and colleagues to offer this opportunity to a community member and support them in pursuing their dreams,” says Christopher Pon, Vice-President of Fund Development at ALS Canada. “An ALS diagnosis is devastating for a person who receives it and their family, and it can upend any immediate and long-term plans. We hope the ALS Canada Kevin Daly Bursary can help ease some of the financial strain.”

The Bursary is open to Canadian students who have been accepted into a post-secondary school within Canada for the 2024-2025 term. Extra consideration will be given to those who are studying within an area that could support ALS research, care, or advocacy  (e.g., biomedical sciences, nursing, neuroscience, political studies, law, etc.). Eligible students must also have a close connection to ALS: people who face the challenges of living with ALS through a parent, a legal guardian or close relative, or those who have lost loved ones to ALS.

“As more people receive an ALS diagnosis, the lives of loved ones around them are forever impacted, often silently paying a significant price,” says Kevin Daly. “We are raising funds to support those students whose pursuit of post-secondary education is hindered by the financial burden and responsibilities of being a caregiver. Our aim is to ease the impact of this terrible disease on young adults who are just beginning their own lives.”

Applications for the 2024-2025 academic year open on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, and close at midnight Eastern time on June 18, 2024. The application form can be found on the ALS Canada website. All applications will be anonymized and reviewed by a panel appointed by ALS Canada, including members of the ALS community, and a decision will be made before the 2024 academic year begins in September.

The Kevin Daly Bursary Fund was created as part of a lasting legacy, celebrating Kevin’s life and character. Funding is raised through the Bursary Fund campaign, with donations managed by ALS Canada and the TELUS Team Care program. The campaign is held annually and grants at least one bursary worth $2,500 each year. Thanks to the generosity of donors, in 2023, three bursaries were granted to students located in Alberta, British Columbia, and Quebec. Donors will receive a receipt from ALS Canada for their contributions. For more details about the Fund, please visit kevindalybursary.com.