The ALS Society of Canada (ALS Canada) and the Kevin Daly Bursary Fund are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2023 ALS Canada Kevin Daly Bursary, granted to post-secondary students who share a personal connection to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The ALS Canada Kevin Daly Bursary is a national program for eligible students who […]
Empowering resilience and academic pursuits
Published in Fund Development, Support & Services on September 12, 2023
Tags: als stories, families with ALS, giving back
My brother Andrew, my only sibling, my closest friend.
Published in Stories on December 4, 2020
Tags: ALS, als stories, community, Donate to ALS, families with ALS, giving, giving back, holidays, living with ALS
Stories like the one below from the community are so important and really help people feel connected to one another. Right now we are collecting short stories and messages of hope from people like you so that we can share them with the community throughout the holiday season. You can contribute here. I always found […]
ALS gave me a different perspective
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 […]
Maintaining dignity, independence and safety through ALS Canada’s Equipment Loan Program
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 […]
Tips for successful virtual fundraising
Published in Events, Fund Development on September 28, 2020
Tags: ALS, community engagement, fundraising, Get Involved, giving, giving back, support
Every year, hundreds of community events take place across Ontario, raising critical awareness and funds toward a future without ALS. With the pandemic changing the way we work, dine and live, our dedicated community is adapting how they fundraise, too. We’ve compiled a list of some of the amazing and creative ways ALS Canada event […]
COVID-19 and the impact of your donor dollars
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 […]
Daughter raises record amount for virtual Walk to End ALS
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 […]
In the face of ALS, Dad is a hero and community is everything
Published in Events, Walk To End ALS on September 26, 2019
Tags: 2019-personal-stories, community, community engagement, fundraising, Get Involved, giving back, walk to end als
Kelsey Barker describes her dad, Jeff, as her hero. Diagnosed with ALS in February 2018, he has since lost the use of his right arm and is now having difficulty breathing and walking – but ALS has not changed the person he is. “He lights up a room. He is selfless and courageous. He pushes […]
Paying it forward to benefit people with ALS in the future
Published in Advocacy, Stories on May 24, 2017
Tags: caregiving, families with ALS, family, giving, giving back, legacy, living with ALS, support
Deirdre O’Connor and her husband, Floyd, became ALS Canada donors 15 years ago. At the time, they had no personal connection to the cause, but they liked the fact that ALS Canada was a small, cost-effective charitable organization without a lot of overhead. Deirdre’s generosity extends to half a dozen or more organizations she supports […]
Fulfilling a promise and a passion
Published in Stories, Volunteers on April 29, 2017
Tags: ALS, community, giving back, volunteering
National Volunteer Week: Tara Wingrave With two 18 year-old daughters, a 19 year-old son, and a highly demanding job, life is hectic, but that won’s stop me from making the time to organize the Barrie WALK for ALS again this year. It’s something I feel passionate about, and it’s one of the most important ways […]
Finding support, hope, and community through volunteering
Published in Stories, Volunteers on April 28, 2017
Tags: ALS, community, giving back, volunteering
National Volunteer Week: Jacqui Devine They always say ALS is rare, so it’s surprising how many times you hear about people who have been diagnosed with the disease. In 2012, I was working as a personal support worker and my favourite client was living with ALS. Since I knew very little about it, I decided […]
Fighting for Genetic Fairness
Published in Stories, Volunteers on April 27, 2017
Tags: ALS advocacy, giving back, volunteering
National Volunteer Week: Benjamin Ritsma I am a physician in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Physiatry), a specialty that aims to help people function better as they deal with a neurological or musculoskeletal condition. My career path was influenced by my own family’s experience with ALS. As a Physiatrist at the ALS clinic, I work with […]
Making a meaningful contribution
Published in Stories, Volunteers on April 26, 2017
Tags: giving back, volunteering
National Volunteer Week: Caroline Price The hardest part about retiring for me was losing the daily connection with my “family” of colleagues. It was one of the reasons I was actively looking for a volunteer role when a position with ALS Canada turned up in an online search. If an opportunity presents itself at the […]
Living, Loving, Laughing… and Volunteering
Published in Stories, Volunteers on April 25, 2017
Tags: ALS advocacy, giving back, living with ALS, volunteering
National Volunteer Week: Carol Skinner When I received my ALS diagnosis in 2013, I was given two to three years to live. I was 41 years old. I had settled into a rewarding career – art therapy – and I was happily married to the man I love. Learning I had ALS and that “there […]
“Compassion is what drives us.”
Published in Stories, Volunteers on April 24, 2017
Tags: ALS, giving back, leadership, volunteering
National Volunteer Week: Geneviève Bertrand Many of us who contribute to the work of ALS Canada as volunteers have a personal connection to ALS, whether we are living with the disease ourselves, or supporting or remembering a close family member, friend, colleague or acquaintance. We are spurred on by the hope for a cure, and want […]