ALS society challenging residents to Walk Together

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on September 10, 2022.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

The Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Society of Alberta will be hosting their annual Walk Together for ALS event in-person once again today at Henderson Lake Park.

After two years of virtual events due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ALS Society of Alberta will host their event in Lethbridge once again to encourage friends and family to come together to support the ALS community and promote hope for a future without ALS.

The Lethbridge Walk Together for ALS has been championed by the Thom Family and is chaired by Shelley Thom in memory of her late husband Gerard.

Funds raised from the Walk Together event will be distributed among client support services and research, with 60 per cent of funds raised going to client support services in Alberta and 40 per cent going to ALS research.

The ALS Society of Alberta is a charitable organization dedicated to making each day the best possible day for people living with and affected by ALS.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a rapid, always fatal neurodegenerative disease. It attacks the nerves of the body that would normally send messages from the brain to the muscle, resulting in weakness and wasting. Eventually, the individual with ALS is left completely immobilized, with loss of speech and an inability to swallow and breathe. There is no known cause or cure for this devastating disease.

The ALS Society of Alberta has introduced 43-year-old Michael Webber as this year’s Ambassador for the Lethbridge Walk.

“They say this disease is rare and yet I am the 8th male in three generations of my family to receive this diagnosis,” Webber said in a release.

He added that while this has been the hardest and most devastating thing they have ever had to face, they are very grateful for the support of their family, friends, and the ALS Society.

“The funding that the ALS Society receives helps provide walkers, wheelchairs, stair lifts, and more to make life just a little more bearable for ALS patients. But most importantly those funds go towards research that will someday hopefully find a cure for this awful disease, most likely not for me, but hopefully for my son, my nephew and all the other men and women who’ll have to go through this in the future,” said Webber.

Those interested in taking part in the event are invited to register for the Walk and fundraise in support of those in Lethbridge currently living with ALS, as well as the families who have lost loved ones at walktogether.alsab.ca.

Meeting place for the walk will be at the Henderson Horseshoe Picnic Shelter to kick off the walk at 11:00 a.m., with registration available at 10:00 a.m.

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