Some  of the folks  taking part in the walk for ALS  take time to stretch – photos 250News

Prince George, B.C. –  Lots of purple at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park this morning as the walk to  raise fund  for ALS  research and support got underway.“This is probably the biggest turnout we’ve ever had in Prince George, so it’s awesome” says Wendy Toyer,  Executive Director of the ALS Society for the BC Yukon Region.

(at right  Wendy Toyer poses with Lou Gehrig image)

Nationally, the goal is to raise $4 million dollars,  and it’s hoped the  event in Prince George can collect about $14 thousand towards that goal.

Toyer says  research on  ALS,  better known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is progressing “We had  the big  influx of revenue from the ice bucket challenge last year  so now researchers are getting it further down, what I call the pipeline. So we’ve  got some advanced research  going on.  Our Canadian researchers  are collaborating,  so  it’s just a matter of time before there’s a break through.   The Walks for ALS across Canada are a major fundraiser for research.”

Toyer says there are,  at any given time,  about 400 people living with ALS in B.C.  Right now in Prince George, there are 7 confirmed  cases  of  ALS, a neuro -degenerative disease which breaks down the  communication between  the brain and muscles, leading to loss of mobility, speech and  eventually the ability to breathe.

Of the funds raised today,  40% will go towards ALS research, and the balance will  go towards patient services and family supports which  every family  with ALS needs says Toyer “When ALS hits a family, in many cases  the spouse becomes the care giver, and even though  the person with ALS gets to a point  where they can’t work, quite often what happens is that the   spouse can no longer work.  And  the kids no longer have those parents who  can support them in their sports or  other activities.”