Special celebrations are a great opportunity to support a cause close to your heart. Whether you are celebrating a wedding, an anniversary, someone’s birthday, bridal or baby shower, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, Baptism/Communion, or a holiday where friends and family like to give gifts. These special occasions are a meaningful opportunity to honour a loved affected by ALS, and give back to a cause that is important to you.
Giving the gift of hope
Create an online donation/event page with details about your celebration, asking your friends and family to consider making a donation in lieu of giving a gift.
Create an ECHOAGE event page where you can invite guests to contribute to a group gift and choose ALS Society of Canada as your charity of choice to support. After the party, ECHOAGE will send you the money and the rest will be donated to ALS Canada.
Read their stories
Read below to find out how Melissa, Michael and Niko have chosen to honour their loved ones by donating to ALS Canada in lieu of gifts and favours.
Melissa and Michael
Melissa and Michael decided to forego party favours in honour of Melissa’s late aunt, Ada Rosa Orlando. Ada passed away from ALS at the age of 66 in November 2016 and therefore could not attend her niece’s wedding. Melissa and Michael chose to donate to ALS Canada on behalf of each guest, in the hopes of helping someone living with ALS in the future. In total, $700 was donated to ALS Canada in memory of Ada Rosa Orlando.
On November 30, 2016, my beautiful aunt, Ada Rosa Orlando, lost her battle with ALS. She was only 66 years old. She battled this disease bravely and courageously. Even though the disease took away her speech and movement, she didn't lose her sense of humour and zest for life. I know that on July 15 she will be watching over me as I marry the love of my life who she adored as well. Michael and myself wanted to honour her somehow on our wedding day and we decided not to do party favours, but instead to donate on behalf of each guest and hopefully help someone else who is battling this terrible disease. I know that I have made you proud, Zia. We miss you!
Melissa and Michael
Niko
Instead of asking for birthday gifts, eight year-old Niko asked his parents to help him raise money for ALS Canada in memory of his grandmother, Yiayia Asimina, who passed away from ALS before Niko was born. His goal was to raise $300 – with the help of family, friends, teachers, classmates, school staff, parents and kind strangers, he raised over $1,800 for ALS Canada.
These gifts can’t fit into a box, but they certainly will make a difference. For any questions or support setting up your page or event, please reach out to teamals@als.ca
