Team Kathleen was formed following the diagnosis of our namesake, Kathleen Corkum. Since then, Team Kathleen has gone on to raise thousands of dollars through many fundraising initiatives.

Kathleen Corkum was a vibrant and kind women. She was a loving wife, mother, granny, sister, aunt, and friend. Kathleen was diagnosed in 2018 after a long battle with the healthcare system that included misdiagnosis and lack of proper care. It wasn't until an 8 day hospitalization and the wonderful work of Dr.Izanburg at Sunnybrook Health Centre, that Kathleen was officially diagnosed with ALS. By the time she recieved her diagnosis, she came out of the hospital no longer able to walk.  She rapidly lost her ability to speak, then swallow, then she lost all movement within her body beyond her eyes.  Kathleen also lived with retnititis pigmatosis and was legally blind. Kathleen's battle with ALS lasted for just over18 months and she died at the age of 59.

Following Kathleen's diagnosis, she went through with genetic testing and it was determined she was a carrier of the pathological C9orf72 gene mutation. Unfortunately, after testing both of Kathleen's children, it was determined her daughter, who is in her 30s, also carried the C9orf72 gene mutation. This mutation is very well known to cause ALS, FTD, and a ALS/FTD combination. Kathleen's daughter is now also being followed by Sunnybrook and is enrolled in the GENFI research program. Her aunt and brother (who are negative for the mutation) are also enrolled in the study as comparisons (affected vs. unaffected). 

Now knowing that our family is affected by the C9orf72 gene mutation, it helps better understand why ALS has also affected other familiy members.

Fundraising for ALS Canada is essential to help continue with both support programs and research.

Your support will help to:

• Create a better day-to-day reality for people and families living with ALS by providing community-based support throughout Ontario – like home visits and support groups – as well as necessary medical equipment like hospital beds, wheelchairs, stairlifts and other items that increase safety in the home, at no cost to those who need them.
• Further scientific progress by investing in the ALS Canada Research Program, which funds promising ALS research. The ALS Canada Research Program is the only national dedicated source of funding for ALS research across Canada. This program provides peer-reviewed grants to researchers whose work has the greatest potential to advance the field of ALS. There’s been more progress made in ALS research in the last five years than over the last century – we need to keep building on this momentum.

Please consider supporting Team Kathleen. We hope one day this legacy becomes one of hope and triumph