More than $45,000 was raised at the 20th annual Red Deer Walk Together for ALS.
About 200 people gathered at Bower Ponds on Saturday to participate in the event, which is held each year in support of those living with and affected by ALS in Alberta.
Michelle Parker, co-chair of the Red Deer event, said it was bittersweet to be able to be hosting the 20th edition of the walk.
“It’s sad that … we haven’t found a cause or a cure for ALS yet, but it’s good that all of the money raised through this walk over the past 20 years has gone to support some big advances in the treatment and support of ALS,” Parker said.
There are nine walks happening throughout the province in 2023 in support of the ALS Society of Alberta, a nonprofit organization that aims to support those affected by the disease and the national ALS research program. The society has offices in Calgary and Edmonton – representatives from the Calgary office attended the Red Deer walk on Saturday.
“We have one gentleman here today who is walking with his family – he was very recently diagnosed. He hasn’t even had the chance to make it to Calgary yet to be assessed. That’s a good thing about our walk – he’s able to meet with people from the Calgary ALS Society of Alberta ahead of meeting with them when he walks into the clinic,” said Parker.
An effect of ALS is the progressive paralysis of the voluntary muscles involved, which leads to loss of mobility, a decline in breathing function, difficulty eating and drinking by mouth, as well as speech problems such as slurring and low volume output.
ALS is usually, but not always, fatal within two to five years after diagnosis. In the past year, 10 people have died from ALS in the Red Deer region, said Parker.
“When you read about ALS, they always say there are about 3,000 Canadians living with it. We lost 10 – to me that’s a big number,” she said.
“We have a lot of people here today whose family members might have left us years ago. But they still come to support other families. They come back year after year and fundraise year after year.”
Parker has been involved in the Red Deer Walk Together for ALS since its inception.
“I personally have never had someone in my life have ALS,” she said.
“Back when the walk was first starting, a friend at work was on the first committee. She asked if I wanted to help out with the walk and I said sure. Ever since I’ve been hooked because the families and people that you meet who have gone through this terrible disease, it just touches your heart.”
For more information on the ALS Society of Alberta, visit www.alsab.ca.
sean.mcintosh@reddeeradvocate.com
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