In honour of National Volunteer Week (NVW), we are reflecting on and celebrating the strength and diversity of ALS Canada’s volunteer community through this year’s theme of the value of one, the power of many. The theme represents the power that individuals can have when they come together as a community to work toward a common goal – in our case – toward a future without ALS.
Although 2020 was a challenging year in many ways, we continue to be amazed by our volunteer community’s innovation and resiliency. From research to advocacy, pivoting to virtual events and fundraising, our volunteers stepped up to donate their time to help people and families living with ALS in Ontario during this unprecedented time.
No one individual alone can support the needs of everyone living with ALS. However, together as a community, we can bring together diverse ideas and mindsets, creating change together. Last year, ALS Canada volunteers collectively donated more than 9600 hours of their time to our shared cause. Here are just a few of the ways that our volunteers provided leadership:
- Walk Coordinators and community organizers played a huge role in the success of our first ever Virtual Walk to End ALS, using their skills to support event planning, fundraising and securing sponsorships.
- Board and Advisory Council members provided strategic insights and advice to our organization, keeping us accountable to the needs of the ALS community.
- Speakers, advocates and awareness volunteers shared their personal experiences with ALS to help others understand the realities of their experience and the urgent need for action.
On behalf of ALS Canada, we would like to thank all of our volunteers for their continued support, time, and talents. We look forward to innovating, meeting new challenges, and celebrating our successes as a community in 2021.