By Laine Mitchell (Twitter: @Laine_Mitchell)

Walk for ALS set for this weekend in Drayton Valley

Jun 12, 2018 | 1:49 PM

The first annual Walk for ALS is set go this weekend in Drayton Valley in a bid to help build awareness for the disease.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a disease that gradually paralyzes people because the brain is no longer able to communicate with the muscles of the body that we are typically able to move at will. Over time someone living with ALS will lose the ability to walk, talk, eat, swallow, and eventually breathe.

Nicole Tymchak, Coordinator for the Drayton Valley ALS Walk said the motivation to start up the first Walk for ALS in town came from a family friend who passed away in 2016 from the disease.

“It was hard to see my best friends lose their mom, she was like a second mom to me,” said Tymchak. “The family received so much support from the ALS Society right when it was needed, it was just amazing.” 

The goal is to raise $50,000, with 60 per cent of the funds raised going to client support services in Alberta. The remaining 40 per cent is set aside to fund ALS research across the country. 

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The walk will be held on June 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lions Park. Participants can register online or at the event itself.