By Bruce MacLeod
Once again the Horsefly Ladies Walking Club is gearing up for their part in the ALS Walk taking place in Williams Lake this month.
Walkers will be gathering in the park June 24 to begin their walk around city streets to raise funds for the ALS Society of BC. Registration is at 10 a.m. and the walk starts at 11 a.m.
ALS stands for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, sometimes referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
There is simply no way to sugar coat the outcome of ALS.
The average survival depending on different factors is 39 months from time of diagnosis. Anyone who has been told they have cancer knows that initial feeling of shock; however there is always hope that with treatment, survival is possible.
With ALS it is only a matter of time until one becomes completely unable to function.
It is an extremely rare disease with no real known cause, and no cure. There is some evidence ALS is genetic in some families, but nothing can be nailed down as fact. It is a frightening prospect to say the least.
The Horsefly Ladies Walking Club is lead by Esther Oschwald.
Esther lost a brother to ALS in 2010, and he is her inspiration.
With any luck, Esther will be joined by walking ladies Nancy Beigh, Gerry Farquharson, Rose Kearney, and Monika Schlaepfer.
Anyone else who wishes to join them is most welcome.
Last year the Ladies raised $1,400 for ALS BC. These fine ladies are seeking sponsorships from their friends and neighbors. They are all in the phone book should you wish to help out.
To learn more about ALS please visit www.als.ca
Submitted by Bruce MacLeod on behalf of the Walking Ladies.