Turning adventure into action: one sailor’s fundraising journey for ALS

When the Race to Alaska, a 750-mile engineless boat race proudly described by its competitors as “the dumbest thing you could do,” launched in 2015, lifelong sailor and Gibsons, BC resident Richard Spooner immediately added it to his bucket list.

But recruiting a team for the grueling journey took Richard a decade of groveling. When he finally convinced longtime friends and rivals from the BC boating scene Ken Holland and Michael Stochmal to join him for 2026, he never imagined it would be an effort that today has raised nearly $10,000 for the ALS community.

In 1995, Richard came to Canada from the United Kingdom to play rugby with the Edmonton Clansmen. He learned about ALS over the years as several prominent rugby players announced their diagnoses, but his personal connection to the disease was forged with local Edmonton business owners Gordon and Lorraine Craig.

Described as “true, no-nonsense Albertans,” Gordan and Lorraine supported Richard during his time in Alberta, fostering a close friendship of nearly 30 years.

“They stood by me,” Richard recalls. “They saw the good in me and supported me. Both very hardworking, genuine, and kind.”

Sadly, Lorraine fell ill and progressively lost her ability to walk while doctors struggled for an answer. Gordon developed similar symptoms and was diagnosed with ALS shortly before his passing in January of 2024. Four months later, Lorraine passed away, and although she was never diagnosed, her family believes she likely suffered from ALS.

Richard had long been driven to give back, but no cause resonated until he lost Gordon and Lorraine: “I’ve had it pretty good in life. Everything that I’ve got has been under my control, but when people get a disease like ALS, there’s no controlling that.”

When Richard’s plans for the Race to Alaska came together, he seized the opportunity to channel months of preparation and adventure into a campaign for ALS through his team, “Against Limits Sailing.”

Richard wasn’t comfortable asking for money, so he initially envisioned the project strictly as an awareness campaign. But as a professional camera assistant, documenting the six-month journey from boat renovation to race day was natural for Richard. Word quickly spread through the tight-knit sailing community, and supporters began asking how they could help. That’s when Richard created the Against Limits Sailing fundraising page through ALS Canada. Before long, donations were following in and continued even after the race ended.

One week into the journey, the Against Limits Sailing team was forced to retire due to boat damage, but with nearly $10,000 raised, Richard sees the experience as a huge success: “We have to get over our own egos by not finishing. Just doing this for the ALS community makes it 100% worthwhile.”

While the Race to Alaska provided a uniquely large platform to raise awareness, Richard wants people to know that fundraising doesn’t have to be a crazy adventure. Whether it’s an ice bucket challenge, a fun run, or a simple donation, he believes every initiative is worthwhile.

For prospective fundraisers, Richard’s advice is simple: “You’ve just got to get started. It doesn’t matter what you do, how much you achieve, just as long as you do something. If I only raise $50, it doesn’t matter. $50 is more than zero.”
Today, Richard hasn’t decided whether he’ll return for another Race to Alaska, but once recovered from his grand adventure, he hopes to keep Against Limits Sailing afloat in whatever form that may take.