"Walk for ALS" fundraising event becomes the "Walk to End ALS"
with proceeds supporting ALS Societies across Canada
TORONTO, Feb. 6, 2019 /CNW/ - ALS Societies across Canada today unveiled a new name for their signature fundraising event. The "Walk for ALS" has become the "Walk to End ALS" – a bolder and catalyzing name that reflects the rally cry and hope that event participants, donors and volunteers have for a future without amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Today 3,000 Canadians are living with ALS – a terminal disease with no known cause or cure. Unforgiving and relentless, the disease progressively paralyzes people leaving them unable to walk, talk, swallow, eat and eventually breathe. The majority (80%) of people with ALS die within 2 to 5 years of diagnosis. About 1,000 Canadians die each year and a similar number will be diagnosed.
The Walk to End ALS is essential in raising critical funds that enable ALS Societies across Canada to carry out their respective missions – which they do without any government funding, relying solely on the generosity of donors. Last year the Walk took place in more than 90 communities, bringing together nearly 9,000 participants who collectively raised more than $4.1 million.
60 per cent of net proceeds from the Walk to End ALS enable ALS Societies to provide community-based support within their province of operation, while 40 per cent are directed to the ALS Canada Research Program where they are invested in the best ALS research in Canada awarded annually following a peer-reviewed competition.
"The Walk to End ALS is a beloved and uplifting event that offers community support and hope for people and families who have faced or are facing an incredibly challenging diagnosis," said Tammy Moore, CEO, ALS Society of Canada. "The new brand and bolder look of our signature fundraising event captures the desire of our community to see an end to this disease – a collective rally cry to action. Together we will Walk to End ALS."
Registration for the Walk will be opening in mid-February at www.walktoendals.ca.
About the Walk to End ALS
The Walk to End ALS is the largest volunteer-led fundraiser for ALS Societies across Canada. Family-friendly and fun, it unites Canadians in their desire to put an end to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Celebrate hope for a future without ALS. Honour those we have loved and lost. Show support for the 3,000 Canadians and their families living with the disease. Fundraising efforts and generous donations support the best ALS research in the country and enable ALS Societies to provide community-based support to people and families living with the disease. www.walktoendals.ca
About ALS Societies across Canada: Together, we can achieve more
ALS Societies across Canada work together to maximize our collective impact and make the greatest difference for people affected by ALS. Our approach as eight independent organizations working in partnership enables us to respond to the variation that exists between provincial healthcare systems where we each play a role in filling gaps by providing community-based support. Collectively through initiatives like the Walk to End ALS, ALS Societies across Canada support the ALS Canada Research Program, which funds peer-reviewed research grants and fosters collaboration among Canadian researchers, helping to nurture new ideas and build capacity. Through provincial and federal advocacy, ALS Societies give voice to the collective experience of people living with ALS to help drive program and system changes for the ALS community.
SOURCE ALS Canada
Lauren Poplak, Manager, Public Affairs and Communications, 1-800-267-4257 x213, [email protected]
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