Meet Sarata Sambou: a mother of 7, a huge advocate for being genuinely good to people, and living a simple life.

One minute, she is walking her 8 years old and 10 years old sons to school. A school that was a mere 15 minutes away. 

The next, she takes 3x as long and is struggling to keep pace with her sons.

One minute, she gets on the hydraulic bus and climbs the step with ease.

The next, she can't make the 12" - 14" step on the hydrolic bus no matter how hard she tried. 

One minute, she is brushing her teeth on her own and rushing to get started on her day.

The next, she cannot keep her arms up high enough. Her fingers fail to grip the toothbrush long enough for her to brush her teeth.

One minute, she is vibrating with excitement. She gets to do the things she loved second to her children: cooking. She wanted to make sure the taste just right. She would be experimenting with flavours, and make food that her loved ones enjoyed. She had big dreams of becoming a chef, attending her children's weddings, and meeting her grandchildren.

The next, she is a former shell of herself. She can no longer cook. She couldn't play practical jokes on her children anymore. Couldn't knit or craft with her daughters. Couldn't play tag with her sons. Couldn't hug her children when they were sad. Couldn't tuck them in and kiss them goodnight. Her arms were too heavy. She couldn't roll over anymore, let alone stand. 

Instead, her days were relegated to fighting a battle that she never pictured she fight. Fighting against a body that was increasingly failing her. Fighting against time. Fighting for the very thing that we sometimes take for granted:

To breathe.

...

This is the life of someone living with ALS.

On June 7, 2026 join me and thousands of others in the Walk to End ALS Toronto hosted by the ALS Society of Canada. Now more than ever, the ALS community needs our support in providing hope and helping those living with and affected by ALS. Our team "Sarata Sambou Society", was created to honor my mother and every mother who live with or have been impacted by ALS.

Please show your support by joining our team! I will be wearing the purple, my mother's favourite colour, and you are welcome to do the same. You may also show your support by donating to our fundraising page as we work to eradicate ALS from this world. 

Here is what your support does:

1. Provide wheel chairs, CPAP machines, and other equipment that are critical in improving the quality of life for those living with ALS.
2. Empower and educate the children, caregivers, and loved ones of those living and impacted by ALS.
3. Offer community based programs such as support groups, virtual programs, and information resources that are critical in creating a better day-to-day reality for people and families living with ALS
4. Invest in the ALS Canada Research program, a program that helps fund the scientific research of ALS. Being the only national dedicated source of funding for ALS, it is critical that we keep the momentum going in finding a cure for ALS. The more these scientists able to research into ALS, the sooner we can find a cure and rid the world of ALS for good.

Every minute counts for those living and impacted by ALS. On June 7th, let's #Steponit for an ALS cure!