Published in Fund Development, Giving Tuesday, Stories on November 24, 2020
Tags: ALS, ALS awareness, als stories, community, Donate to ALS, donating to ALS, fundraising, giving, giving back, holidays, living with ALS, support
Here and now. After a year and a half of undiagnosed symptoms and testing, in November of 2018 I was diagnosed with ALS. I really remember that day as a transformative one. One moment my doctor was dropping the weight of the world on my shoulders by telling me I have ALS, and the next […]
Published in Fund Development, Stories on November 3, 2020
Tags: ALS, ALS awareness, als stories, care, caregiving, community, Donate to ALS, donating to ALS, families with ALS, find a cure for ALS, finding a cure for als, fundraising, giving, giving back, living with ALS, support
Mark Vivarais was almost in tears as he walked back to his wife, Sandra, from a washroom at an outdoor outlet mall in Florida. He’d been stuck in there for half an hour, struggling to pull himself up from the low toilet seat. “That’s when it hit me,” Sandra recalled. “Oh my god, this is […]
Published in Fund Development, Update on August 27, 2020
Tags: ALS, community, community engagement, Donate to ALS, donating to ALS, fundraising, giving, giving back
Because of supporters like you, in addition to the $10,000 match that was offered by ALS Canada’s dear friend, Deirdre, $24,000 was raised for the ALS Canada COVID-19 Urgent Response Fund and it has helped to evolve our programs for people and families living with ALS. How has the COVID-19 Urgent Response Fund made a […]
Published in Events, Fund Development, Research, Stories, Update, Walk To End ALS on June 25, 2020
Tags: ALS, ALS awareness, ALS Awareness Month, Donate to ALS, donating to ALS, fundraising, walk to end als
I reached out to you on June 1 to invite you to join us in 21 Days to Make a Difference. You embraced the daily activities across social media platforms and openly shared your stories, photos, memories, and experiences. What I saw happen online was a community that came together in anticipation of something big! […]
Published in Events, Stories, Walk To End ALS on June 19, 2020
Tags: ALS, ALS awareness, ALS Awareness Month, als stories, community, Donate to ALS, families with ALS, living with ALS, walk to end als
Charmaine Loverin, who was diagnosed with ALS last year, has stayed positive through tremendous change and upheaval imposed by the disease, especially during the COVID-19 crisis. She left her home and relocated to Belleville to live with her sister, Michelle, who reached out with “open arms.” After the move, Charmaine returned to Toronto on a […]
Published in Events, Stories, Walk To End ALS on June 16, 2020
Tags: ALS, ALS awareness, ALS Awareness Month, als stories, caregiving, community, Donate to ALS, donating to ALS, families with ALS, fundraising, living with ALS, walk to end als
ALS shatters dreams no matter when it strikes. For Deane Gorsline, 31, and his wife, Danielle, living with ALS means letting go of a lifetime of dreams. Focusing on the present helps them stay positive, whether it’s enjoying precious time with their new puppy, Trigger, or supporting the ALS community they belong to by joining […]
Published in Events, Stories, Walk To End ALS on June 9, 2020
Tags: ALS, ALS awareness, ALS Awareness Month, als stories, caregiving, community, Donate to ALS, donating to ALS, families with ALS, giving, giving back, living with ALS, walk to end als
Jocelyne Gall is doing her best to support her dad, Bill, who was diagnosed with ALS in July 2018. As the only child of divorced parents, she is the only family member attending to her dad’s needs – and with three young children of her own, she has a lot to manage. While her situation […]
Published in Events, Stories, Walk To End ALS on June 5, 2020
Tags: ALS, ALS Awareness Month, ALS Canada Research Program, als stories, caregiving, community, Donate to ALS, donating to ALS, families with ALS, living with ALS, walk to end als
Even a high level of awareness about ALS cannot fully prepare anyone for what it takes to navigate the changes that occur as the disease progresses. Charlotte and Bob Brethour have faced many difficult hurdles, but they still appreciate every day they share together, “even when the best-laid plans have gone awry,” says Charlotte. “We’re […]
Published in Stories, Walk To End ALS on September 12, 2019
Tags: 2019-personal-stories, ALS, als cure, als stories, community, community engagement, Donate to ALS, families with ALS, find a cure for ALS, living with ALS, support, walk to end als
When Shelly Gregory first noticed her speech was slurred two years ago, she drove herself to the hospital in Belleville thinking she was having a stroke. Eight months later, in May 2018, she learned she had bulbar onset amyotrophic lateral sclerosis – a form of ALS that first affects people from the neck up. Since […]
Published in Fund Development, Stories on August 23, 2019
Tags: 2019-personal-stories, ALS, ALS research, als stories, caregiving, Donate to ALS, Every August, Every August Until A Cure, families with ALS, fundraising, Ice Bucket Challenge, support
Five years ago, when the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge went viral in 2014, Mario knew very little about ALS, and had no idea how it would affect his life. Because of a co-worker whose dad was living with ALS, Mario completed the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. “Once I got tagged in a post there was […]
Published in Research, Stories on August 15, 2019
Tags: 2019-personal-stories, ALS Canada Research Program, ALS research, als stories, Donate to ALS, Every August, Every August Until A Cure, find a cure for ALS, funding als research, fundraising, Ice Bucket Challenge, living with ALS, motor neuron disease
Margot Algie heard about the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge in 2014 through friends and had no idea that only one year later, she would be diagnosed with the disease. Since then, she has come to understand firsthand the importance of maintaining the momentum of the viral social media phenomenon that resulted in a $21.5M investment […]
Published in Fund Development on August 12, 2019
Tags: community engagement, Donate to ALS, donating to ALS, finding a cure for als, funding als research, fundraising, Get Involved, How to donate to ALS research, research funding
In late 2018, Facebook began offering the option for Canadians to create fundraisers for nonprofit organizations or for personal causes. Since then many of you have reached out to us with questions about how these giving options can be used to support ALS Canada. We know Facebook can be a quick and easy way to […]
Published in Research, Stories on August 9, 2019
Tags: 2019-personal-stories, ALS Canada Research Program, als cure, ALS research, Donate to ALS, Every August, find a cure for ALS, funding als research, fundraising, genetic research, motor neuron disease, research, women in science
“When you start researching ALS, it becomes a life mission,” says Dr. Janice Robertson, a prominent figure in the ALS research community in Canada and abroad. Dr. Robertson is studying variations within the brain and spinal cord of people living with ALS using two powerful new technologies that allow researchers to examine the nuclei of […]
Published in Research, Stories, Volunteers on August 2, 2019
Tags: 2019-personal-stories, ALS Canada Research Program, als cure, ALS research, caregiving, Donate to ALS, Every August, Every August Until A Cure, fundraising, Ice Bucket Challenge, living with ALS, motor neuron disease
Beth Robertson’s husband, Tim, lived courageously with ALS for 12 years. He was sustained by the loving presence of his wife, Beth, his three children, and a large network of family and friends. Beth says she would do it all over again for Tim, but she admits ALS is a terrible burden for everyone it […]
Published in Advocacy, Fund Development, Stories on July 26, 2019
Tags: ALS, ALS awareness, community, community engagement, Donate to ALS, donating to ALS, finding a cure for als, funding als research, fundraising, giving
Last spring, Mike Leech, 59, approached his plant manager to request a 2-month leave from work to complete a bike ride across Canada for charity. An avid cyclist, he dreamed of cycling coast to coast but he wanted to make it more than just a physical challenge. He wanted to raise awareness and money for […]
Published in Advocacy, Fund Development on June 24, 2019
Tags: advocacy, als cure, Donate to ALS, donating to ALS, edaravone, find a cure for ALS, fundraising, research funding, Research update
Every day, more than 3,000 people and families throughout Ontario and Canada live with the realities of ALS, a devastating disease that takes away dreams, abilities, and lives. But for all ALS takes, it cannot take away our shared desire for a future without this disease. We rely on you – our generous donors – […]
Published in Walk To End ALS on June 13, 2019
Tags: als canada, als diagnosis, ALS research, als society of canada, Donate to ALS, donate to als research, donating to ALS, finding a cure for als, finding out you have ALS, having als, how to handle als, supporting people with als, walk to end als
At the rink where he has coached boys’ ice hockey for more than 10 years, Adam Welburn-Ross, 43, is fondly known as “Coach Sunshine.” He wears his positivity as a badge of honour and now that he is living with ALS, his disposition is helping everyone around him appreciate every precious moment of the day. […]
Published in Events, Walk To End ALS on June 6, 2019
Tags: 2019-personal-stories, ALS research, Donate to ALS, donating to ALS, finding a cure for als, fundraise for ALS, fundraising for als, how to donate to ALS, How to donate to ALS research, how to help ALS, how to help people with als, walk to end als
An active mother of three young children, Stephanie Christiansen Hall wants people to know she has ALS – but she wants everyone to know that her disease is only part of her story. Apart from living with ALS, Stephanie is – and has always been – a selfless person with a positive nature, a desire […]