Our team honours the late, Kathleen Corkum. Kathleen passed away at the age of 59 after an 18 month battle with ALS on December 31, 2020.

She was first diagonsed with ALS on June 20 of 2019, which was also her 58th Birthday, after a 8 day inpatient stay at Sunnybrook Hospital. Kathleen later found out through genetic testing that she carried the C9orf72 mutation and in fact had familial ALS. Kathleen had lost her aunt to ALS and her father (although never diagnosed with ALS) passed away with similar symptoms. Subsequntly, her daughter Jillian, has also been determined to carry the C9orf72 mutation. As part of our fundraising we would also like to help spread awareness about familial ALS and the ravaging affects it can have on families.

Kathleen was tiny but absolutly mighty. She had fierce determination and genuinly pure heart. She could light up a room with her smile and had a wicked sense of humour. Her dad often refered to her as his little ray of sunshine growing up, with her beautiful golden locks and sunny disposition. That being said she would not back down when challenged or when a family member or loved one needed her to come to their defense.

Kathleen was the true middle child of 7 children. She married the love her life at the tender age of 22 and went on to have two children, a boy and a girl.

Tragically she lost her husband in 2014 to cancer.

Kathleen was the Granny to two beautiful Grandchildren who she absolutly adored. She would be the first to cheer on one of her granddaughters new dance moves or get outside to play hockey with her grandson ( even with being legally blind!). She was loved and adored by her nieces and nephews and was a true friend to many. ALS had taken so much from her in a short period of time but she never once gave up hope or her fight to keep going. We will never give up hope for a cure and we will keep fighting with the same tenacity that Kathleen showed.