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More than $8,000 raised for ALS

May 26, 2012 | 12:59 PM

It is a great day for a walk and that’s exactly what a group of Prince Albert residents did on Saturday in support of a great cause.

A group of around 30 people met at the Messiah Lutheran Church to help raise money for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), otherwise known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

“Unfortunately it is a disease that moves very fast … and unfortunately it is very costly. The average patient in Saskatchewan, we’re fortunate to have the health care we do have, but it could run up to $100,000,” said Lisa Pluhowy, president of the ALS Society of Saskatchewan who travelled up from Regina for the event.

ALS is a rapidly progressive fatal neuromuscular disease. It degenerates certain nerve cells and pathways in the brain and spinal cord, which leads to paralysis. About 1,500 to 2,000 Canadian are living with ALS.

“ALS can strike anyone. There’s not any particular demographic, geographic location, or age group. It can strike anyone from 19 to 79 and that the most important thing is that in Saskatchewan we have a great health care system, but unfortunately there’s areas where Saskatchewan health doesn’t cover certain equipment and it is a very costly disease to have someone affected in your family. So, that’s the main goal of the society, “she explained.

There is no cure, but Pluhowy hopes this will someday change with the help of events like today’s walk.

The day’s events included a breakfast, silent auction, Chinese auction, and 50/50 draws. MC-ing the event was POWER 99’s own, Trevor Gowen who said his father passed away from the disease a couple years back.

The ALS walk co-ordinator, Elizabeth Deobald, has also been personally affected by the disease.

In 2003 her aunt was diagnosed with ALS, leading Deobald to move in with the woman to help out. Deobald explained it was hard for the whole family to watch her aunt deteriorate and in 2005 she succumbed to the disease.

“It’s pretty huge. I mean you got to watch your loved ones sort of, they almost turn into a stone,” Deobald said. “You still retain the use of your eyeballs and your brain doesn’t change at all, like your brain function doesn’t deteriorate. So, you’re still of sound mind and you can move your eyes, but that’s all you have control of in the end.”

“You just basically get stuck in a chair or a bed.”

This is an average lifespan of someone diagnosed with ALS, Deobald said, adding Saskatchewan has about 12 to 15 deaths in year.

After the walk, the money raised on Saturday was counted. The total came to $8,410.50, which didn’t include the online donations.

Pluhowy said 40 per cent of that total will go to funding the national research initiative and 60 per cent will stay in Saskatchewan to assist the families.

“It’s $7,000 to install a lift. To buy it and install it and when people hear that and they realize their money is going to someone in their community and helping somebody for quality of life, it’s joy,” Pluhowy said.

For more information on ALS and future fundraising events in Saskatchewan you can visit their website or call 949-4100.

sstone@panow.com

@sarahstone84