My family and I will be walking again this year in the ALS Canada walk on Sunday June 8th, 2025. 

I was diagnosed with this as-yet incurable illness two years ago in June of 2023. Shortly after my diagnosis, Steve and I were fortunate enough to be able to travel to South Africa and Botswana and then later to the UK, Greenland and Iceland. Now, the only part of me that can run is my nose, and I need assistance with everything that I do. As I watch my progress, and my progressive weakness I realize how important it is to help the ALS community in any way that I can.

The ALS Society and the Sunnybrook ALS clinic have been exceptionally helpful to me along the way providing support and equiptment that I need to manage day-to-day activities. I hope that further research funds will find treatments for this devastating illness. 

Your support will help to:

• 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. 
• Create a better day-to-day reality for people and families living with ALS by providing community-based services throughout Ontario – this includes 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.

Join our team in making a difference. Please consider donating to our team fundraising page as we work toward a world free of ALS.!

Thank you so much for your support 

Barbara Held