ALS Canada Pull to End ALS brings strength and determination back to Toronto and Simcoe County

Community-driven fundraiser challenges participants to pull a 42,000-lb transport truck in support of people affected by ALS, making it easier than ever for individuals and teams to get involved

TORONTO, September 16, 2026 – This fall, the ALS Society of Canada (ALS Canada) Pull to End ALS returns to Toronto and Simcoe County. On September 19 at York University in Toronto and October 18 at Georgian College in Barrie, teams of up to 14 people will take on the challenge of pulling a 42,000-lb truck 100 metres while raising funds to support people living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Designed for teams of friends, coworkers, families, and community groups, the Pull to End ALS invites people from across Toronto and Simcoe County to take on a challenge unlike any other. Whether participants are personally connected to ALS or simply want to rally behind an important cause in their community, the event is an opportunity to gather a team, test their strength, and be part of a day that supports people living with ALS and their families.

The challenge of strength symbolizes both the burden of an ALS diagnosis and the determination of the ALS community to come together in support of progress in trusted information and support, advocacy, research, and awareness. The combined goal of the events aims to raise $379,000 to support people affected by ALS today while advancing progress toward a world free of ALS by funding the ALS Canada Research Program, which invests in Canada’s most promising research to understand and treat the disease.

“The ALS Canada Pull to End ALS returns to Toronto and Simcoe County, challenging colleagues, friends, and families to come together in support of people affected by ALS,” said Tammy Moore, Chief Executive Officer at ALS Canada. “Every year, we see people take part for different reasons, but what brings them together is a shared desire to make a difference. Whether you have a personal connection to ALS or simply want to support your community, this event is an opportunity to take on a challenge, have fun, and help create a world free of ALS. Events like this are vital to ALS Canada’s mission because they raise critical funds, build awareness, and show people affected by ALS that they are not facing this disease alone.”

ALS is a relentless disease that progressively paralyzes individuals by preventing the brain from communicating with the muscles. As a result, people with ALS often face a swift decline in the ability to talk, walk, eat, swallow, and eventually breathe. There is currently no cure for the disease that carries a lifetime risk of 1 in 300 for each of us.

“I first got involved in the Pull to End ALS in memory of my sister, Mary Lynn, and my cousin, Wally, both of whom we lost to ALS. What struck me was how many people showed up carrying their own connection to the disease,” said Dave Cayley, captain of Wink’s Warriors. “Pulling that truck is challenging, but nothing compared to what people living with ALS and their families face every day. For me, taking part is about honouring the people we’ve lost, supporting people living with ALS today, and helping create a better future for the families who may face this disease tomorrow.”

Donate and register to support the journey toward a world free of ALS: https://als.ca/pulltoendals.

ALS Canada Pull to End ALS event details:

Toronto
When: Saturday, September 19, 2026
9:15 am to 10:00 am – Team registration
10:00 am – Opening remarks
10:10 am to 1:30 pm – Team Pulls take place
1:30 pm – Closing ceremonies

Location: Founders Rd East Lot – York University, North York, ON M3J 3K1

Getting there: Travel by TTC with a short walk from York University station. Parking is free for participants with a code provided for the HONK app.

Register at: pulltoendals.als.ca/Toronto

Simcoe County, presented by Barrie Ford
When: Sunday, October 18, 2026
9:15 am to 10:00 am – Team registration
10:00 am – Opening remarks
10:10 am to 1:30 pm – Team Pulls take place
1:30 pm – Closing ceremonies

Location: Parking Lot F – Georgian College, 1 Georgian Dr, Barrie, ON L4M 4H8

Parking: Parking is free for participants with a code provided for the HONK app.

Register at: pulltoendals.als.ca/simcoe/

About ALS and the ALS Society of Canada

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an unrelenting and currently terminal disease. It progressively 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. Nearly 4,000 Canadians live with ALS and approximately 1,000 Canadians are diagnosed each year. Four out of five people living with ALS will die within two to five years of their diagnosis.

The ALS Society of Canada is working to change what it means to live with ALS. Grounded in and informed by the Canadian ALS community, we respond to the urgent unmet need for life-changing treatments by investing in high-quality research that will fuel scientific discovery and by engaging industry, supporting increased clinical capacity, and advocating for equitable, affordable, and timely access to proven therapies.

Responding to the tremendous need for current and credible ALS knowledge, awareness, and education, we empower Canadians affected by ALS to navigate the current realities of ALS, be informed consumers of ALS information, and advocate effectively for change. In Ontario, we provide direct community services to help people navigate ALS.

Founded in 1977, ALS Canada is a registered charity whose work is powered by generous donors who share our vision of a world free of ALS.

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Join the conversation and connect with the ALS community online. Find ALS Canada on X, Instagram, or like our page on Facebook. Visit als.ca to find out more.

For more information:
ALS Society of Canada
media@als.ca
437-703-5402