The ALS Society of Alberta was thrilled to host the 2017 WALK for ALS training and planning session on Saturday Oct. 22. WALK Coordinators from across the province came together to share ideas, capture new opportunities and get the wheels in motion for the 2017 WALKs. Thank you to all who took the time our of your busy schedule to participate in the training session. It was a great day full of fresh and exciting ideas!
Thank you to Mikael Backlund for hosting our families at the game on Saturday night! Your generosity and support truly makes a difference in the lives of those affected by ALS, and creates memories that will never be forgotten.
From Oct. 4 - 5, the Phi Delta Theta fraternity will be hosting a 24-hour teeter totter marathon to raise funds for ALS. The fraternity will be teetering for 24 hours straight in hopes of spreading awareness throughout the University of Alberta, and raising funds for the ALS Society of Alberta. Phi Delta Theta orginally became involved with ALS fundraising after Lou Gehrig, a member of the fraternity and professional baseball player, was diagnosed with ALS 75 years ago. For more information, contact Emily@alsab.ca
It was a beautiful Saturday morning for Lethbridge's tenth annual WALK for ALS, which raised $30,000! This years walk kicked-off to the tunes of the Firemen's Bagpipe Band.
Special thanks to Gerard Thom, our 2016 Lethbridge WALK for ALS Ambassador, his wife Shelley and son Adam, for all the heart they put into this years walk. The Thom's hard work, along with their family and friends, treated walkers to face painters, a DJ, a local gymnastics group, and much more!
Thanks to Tami Pedersen, from the Lethbridge Kinette Club, along with all our sponsors, donors, participants and volunteers for making this event such a success. See you next year!
On September 10, the fourth annual Spruce Grove WALK for ALS took place at Central Park. The event was a great success, with over $2,400 raised for client support services in Alberta and national ALS research. Thank you to everyone who helped to make the Spruce Grove WALK possible!
Big Drew's Big Ride 2016 was a wonderful success, raising $9,400! A great ride was had by all and, as hoped, there was plenty of Drew's style of teasing, laughing and - in the end - big eating!
Thank you to Jim Robinson and Carmen Jeam for your hard work in making the ride happen every year!
We had a blast on Saturday "Pushing-up against ALS!" The bootcamp raised over $500 for the Society! Thank you to all participants and donors, and to Fit Body Bootcamp!
The ALS Society of Alberta was thrilled to hear that this year's Quonset Days raised nearly $72,000! This is a record-breaking achievement, with over 1,000 people in attendance raising awareness for ALS in Southern Alberta. Thank you to Janet Biemans and family for the hard work you put into the event each and every year!
The fifth annual Saz's Soldiers Charity ALS Golf Tournament took place in Beaumont at the Coloniale Golf Club on August 12. A huge thank you to Tanya Sasyniuk and family for all of the hard work you put into this event each year!
Earlier this week researchers announced that the gene NEK1 has been found to play a significant role in the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This landmark discovery is the result of an 11-country research collaboration that was funded through the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. The research team included 3 Canadians, one of whom was directly funded by the national ALS Canada research program. Albertans raised a remarkable $2.8 million for the ALS Society of Alberta during the Ice Bucket Challenge, of which $2 million was invested in the national ALS research program.
This finding will trigger future studies that focus specifically on the NEK1 gene. It is a compelling example of how donor dollars can lead to landmark research results, and speaks to the ongoing need to fund ALS research. In Canada, the Ice Bucket Challenge resulted over $20 million of research funding provided by provincial societies across the country. This historic achievement is more than 10 times the typical annual investment!
Want to participate in the 2016 #ALSIceBucketChallenge? Click here to get started.
Swing for ALS took place on July 9 at the Grand Centre Golf Course in Cold Lake, with a mixed best ball scramble. This wonderful event takes place every year in honour of Melanie Lefebvre. A big thank you to event organizer Leon Lefebvre and family, and to Pat Feduniak for being the MC! Another big thank you to everyone who volunteered, supported and participated in this heartfelt event!
As the Bustin' Out ALS Stampede fundraiser quickly approaches, some of our furry friends wanted to participate in helping us promote the event! To get your paws on a signature purple bandana, find the "Events" tab on our website and get your tickets to Bustin' Out ALS. At the event, for $30, you will be able to purchase a bandana and raffle ticket for your chance to win one of 30 unique prizes we have lined up! ALL proceeds will go toward the ALS Society of Alberta. We hope to see you there!
Kivi wears her ALS Society of Alberta bandana to help spread ALS Awareness!
Alfred Jongkind, is considered a very proud business man. In 1958 in Edmonton - Alfred started Al-Brite Manufacturing Jewellers Ltd. He has a passion for custom design jewelry, quality workmanship, exceptional customer service along with hard work and dedication. In 1958, his business was first located in the 101 Street Kitchen Building in Edmonton for 20 years. He then moved to the Bental Building and is currently at Enbridge Place downtown Edmonton. Alfred cleverly named the business ‘Al-Brite’ because ‘Al’ stands for Alfred and ‘Brite’ means that jewelry is bright. He has been a certified gemologist and master goldsmith for 65 years and he has kept the same stunning work bench throughout his career. In 2002, Alfred turned the business over to his four children. Between Alfred, his wife, four children and grandson, they have a combined total of approximately 230 years of customer service in 58 years. Alfred keeps up his knowledge through reading magazines and he continues to work at the business 7-8 hours per week. Alfred and his wife Shirley married on October 29, 1951 (65 years) and have been in the same house since 1955 (61 years). In his earlier years, he enjoyed many activities with his friends; pool, lawn bowling, YMCA Member, travelling, poker and Las Vegas.
Together, with the support of their children and grandchildren, the business has now become a Third Generation Family Business of 58 years. Humbly, Alfred says ‘he rarely missed a day of work in 58 years, but if he does now he has to make up the time’.
Gloria has many natural talents along with her witty sense of humor and spicy bright personality. Gloria combines all three of these qualities plus many more to #MakeItPossible. At an early age she started to sing and continues to do so every day; beautifully I was told. She has a love for all types of music and listens to it every day including gospel, opera, blues, rock and roll, Ukrainian, Led Zeppelin and Pit Bull; she considers herself a natural go with the flow pro rapper. She used the beats of her music to cleverly clean her house – wipe here, wipe there, squirt here, squirt there and polka and rap at the same time.
Gloria has a passion for decorating inside and out. Every season she brings out Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter colors inside and outside of the house. She has consulted many friends and family members on Gloria’s Decorating Tips and Ideas on how to make your home looking beautiful and even on a budget. She is a Feng Shui guru and keeps her talent and knowledge up by reading decorating magazines and decorating TV shows. Together Gloria and Sandy have continued to make their home warm and inviting. Not only do the two decorate together but also are dedicated to watching their favorite NFL Football Team the New England Patriots. Gloria has taken a liking to quarterback Tom Brady. Gloria enjoys the peaceful and serene setting of her front yard but especially her back yard. There she can enjoy all different types of birds, squirrels, tall trees, flowers and even the odd bat that Yannie her caregiver discovered underneath her patio umbrella as she was opening it! Yannie is a daily ray of sunshine in their home; from amazing cooking, wonderful care giving and just being part of their family.
Their home has become party central for all special occasions since there are 5 grandkids all under the ages of 7. Gloria says “I always thank God and feel very lucky to have such a wonderful man – my husband by my side, my family and friends who fill my life with happiness and hope”.
Until recently, it was hard to keep track of Velma Simon (aka G-ma). Although in her eighties, Vel was active and involved in the community. She played Bingo three times a week, Pokeno twice a month, and was often out with friends. She volunteered at the Santori Hospice, calling Bingo for the patients; one of them a very dear friend, who she visited weekly. Vel painted pictures for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also painted candles and made jewellery, which she sold at craft fairs. She enjoyed travel, frequently going to BC to visit friends and family. In her seventies, her adventurous spirit took her to India - a trip she recalls fondly.
Vel has always been a tremendous support for her family. She guided the family through numerous moves, dictated by her husband's work and studies. She always jokes that she should have received the same university degrees as her husband, as she helped with the research and typed every thesis! When her husband became ill, she was a tireless caregiver and dedicated her days and nights to ensuring he was comfortable and safe.
Vel's amazing work ethic, ability to adapt and innovate, and positive attitude have helped her cope amazingly well through a new journey - living with ALS. She continues to live quite independently, with the assistance of her family, home care workers, and the support of the ALS Society. The society has provided not only equipment, but emotional support, guidance, encouragement, and opportunities. A long-time Calgary Flames fan, Vel attended her first Calgary Flames game, courtesy of the ALS Society and Michael Backlund of the Flames. She intends to go again!
Vel is an inspiration, deeply loved and respected, and has set a fine example for the new generations of family for how to live life well.
Ed Finch, has a natural talent, skillset and positive attitude for his learned knowledge in: mechanical, electrical, plumbing, welding, wood working and painting. He enjoys a challenge and says “if it doesn’t work, step back, think, improvise and you make it work and 99.9% of the time it worked!”
In his late 20’s he worked at a well-known muffler shop in Yorkton, Saskatchewan. There was a contest to see who could put on dual exhaust the quickest. All materials where laid out and ready to go for each competitor. Ed completed the task in a little over two minutes and was presented the grand prize, a stereo set. Other interests of Ed’s includes painting bird houses his family provides to him to finish off, planting flowers, creating and painting wooden animals, cars, etc. and painting ceramics. He has a passion for wolves and had a pet wolf for 15 years whom he named Chief. Ed also enjoys reading western novels and watching western movies, particularly any movie that stars actors John Wayne or Clint Eastwood. Ed is #MakingItPossible to continue enjoying life to its fullest by filling his days with the things he is most passionate about, despite his diagnosis with ALS.
Mayor Naheed Nenshi continues to show his appreciation and support toward the ALS Society of Alberta. From attending Betty's Run for ALS as a guest speaker and leaving a positive note of hope behind on the cornflower letter wall, to declaring June as ALS Awareness Month on behalf of The City of Calgary, the ALS Society of Alberta is extremely proud to have its Southern office located in the beautiful city of Calgary. Thank you Mayor Nenshi for all that you do and for #MakingItPossible to proclaim June as ALS Awareness Month in Calgary.
Norm Pollock made possibilities happen. After being diagnosed with ALS, this compassionate litigator didn’t miss a step. He went on a dream vacation with his family, a golfing trip to St. Andrews, continued to practice law, joined the ALS Society of Alberta Board, became a member of the Finance Committee and advocated strongly for the cause. With the support of his wife Janet, sons Shawn and David, and an army of friends, Norm lived each day with strength, determination and a bit of a stubbornness. Norm gave of himself every day and was recognized for his contributions to the ALS Community when he was presented with the Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal just days before he passed. Norm showed us never to give up and fight for the things that are important.
At the young age of five, creative, self-taught and left handed Herbert Lindae had a passion for art and painting. In Grade 7 math class, Herbert got in trouble for doodling in his math book instead of paying attention from the teacher. He started off with pencil crayons, water colors, acrylics, and then found himself thoroughly enjoying working with oils. Herbert claims that oils are his favorite because they are pliable and when you make mistakes, you can cover them. When Herbert sees a picture he likes, he is motivated to paint it himself, and when he starts, he says that it is difficult to stop. He knows the techniques of how to paint and says it is very challenging to stay steady when painting lines. Despite his love for painting and having success selling a few of his paintings over the past few years, he claims being an artist a “messy business”. Herbert is grateful for his gift of painting is #MakingItPossible to continue painting regardless of his diagnosis of ALS.
Thank you to everyone who joined in the Paint Night for ALS at the Morinville Rendezvous Centre on Friday!
