Saturday June 1^st, I will be participating in my 3rd ALS Canada Walk to End ALS.  I originally was not going to participate in this year’s walk, purely out of selfish reasons, then I realized is how little people know about this awful & cruel disease and I should continue to share my story. 3000 to 4000 people in Canada are living with ALS, roughly 1000 die per year, however the impact it has on your body is quite cruel.  When I was diagnosed in 2021, I had about 95% body functionality. Today I have lost over 90% of my upper body functionality, the muscles in my arms, hands and shoulders have all but deteriorated, where I am 100% reliant on my wife, family, and friends for support.

ALS is a living grieving process.  As you lose functionality, you lose your independence, driving a car is a thing of the past, the emotional toll it takes on you is significant, you grieve those losses. I'm a person that hates to ask for help, now I must ask for & accept help, be vulnerable.  The simple tasks are not simple, which leads to frustration and anger, you think ahead knowing it will get worse. I have significant strain on my neck and shoulders, which leads to pain and headaches, as well pain in my abdomen and around my diaphragm.

Why do this walk?  Life expectancy after diagnosis on average is 3 years, looks like I will beat that, I put aside my selfish reasons to continue the awareness and help raise money for research and the support the ALS Society of Canada provides for the community with resources.  The walk this year will be extremely difficult, it will knock the crap out of me for a week, however since I can still walk, I can support the efforts of the ALS community. I will be doing the 5K walk in Georgian Bluffs Ontario, however the money raised will go to the Georgetown walk where I spent much of my life.

If you can donate, please follow this link to my page or copy it into your browser, https://alscanadawalktoendals.als.ca/ontario/doug-reid-40 no matter the amount it can make a difference.

Thanks, Doug