THUNDER BAY -- ALS hits too close to home for Murray Brown who knows too well that ALS can strike anybody at any time.
The former Thunder Bay Police Service Staff Sergeant was diagnosed with ALS four years ago, but with the support from his friends and family he has been attending the Thunder Bay Walk for ALS since being diagnosed.
Brown was joined by many others who have had their lives affected by the disease and together they walked 5 kilometres around the Chapples Park area Saturday morning to raise awareness.
“I’m here today to show some support and bring awareness to ALS,” Brown said.
“Communities are becoming more aware of ALS with walks like these across Canada, and obviously the infamous ice bucket challenge that happened a couple of years ago raised some much needed awareness and funds for research.”
ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects the muscles in the body, and as a result your body starts to slowly shut down.
Brown said some days are more challenging than others, but simple things people take for granted like going to the bathroom or brushing his teeth he has to rely on other people to complete the task.
“It’s challenging from my perspective,” Brown said. “I’m used to doing everything myself, but now I have to rely on the staff at St. Joe’s Hospital to do my care.”
Brown said he was shocked to be told at 50-years-old he had an untreatable illness, but since day one the support received from friends and family has been astonishing.
ALS Canada regional manager Kim Barry said the walk is about supporting the patients and the community.
“Part of coming together isn’t just about the current patients we have,” Barry said. “It’s also about the patients we have lost to ALS, so it’s a big deal to remember those people and honour them.”
The walk also raises funds for ALS research and client services.
“In terms of clients in Thunder Bay, we help provide equipment to make them more independent and to allow them to stay at home as independently as possible,” Barry said.
The organization offers home visits, support groups, and online resources to help them connect to other organizations that do support as well.
Barry added that last November, ALS Canada provided $15,100,000 in research, so there’s a lot of research happening in the community to hopefully find a treatment for ALS.
Organizers said this year’s goal is to raise $15,000.
