News release
For immediate release
$320,000 raised by the Ride and Hike to Fight ALS
Montreal, August 28th, 2018 – From August 24th to 26th, the 11th edition of the Ride to Fight ALS powered by TELUS Health in support of the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Society of Quebec took the Eastern Townships by storm. Around 200 cyclists and volunteers gathered at Espace 4 Saisons in Orford to take a stand against ALS. Participants biked 56km to 120km during one, two or three days. On Saturday, August 25th, a hike on the trails of Mont-Orford National Park and a BBQ at the foot of the slopes of the Station de ski Mont-Orford also aimed to raise funds in support of the non profit organization. To date, $320,000 was raised by both events to support Quebec families touched by ALS and research.
A few facts about the Ride and Hike to Fight ALS
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- The 11th edition of the Ride to Fight ALS took place August 24-26 at l’Espace 4 saisons;
- The very first edition of the Hike to Fight ALS was held at Mont-Orford National Park on Saturday, August 25th.
- Saturday, August 25th ended on a festive note with a BBQ at the base of the Station de ski Mount Orford where cyclists, hikers and anyone willing to join the party were invited;
- 200 cyclists of all backgrounds, hikers and volunteers were there;
- The Ride to fight ALS includes three options: a one, two and three-day cycling challenges.
- These events raise awareness for ALS and raise funds to support research and offer technical, psychosocial and financial help to people living with ALS across the province and their loved ones;
- Since 2008, the Ride to Fight ALS has been the Society’s flagship event, with cyclists of all backgrounds participating and raising over $2 million during this past decade.
The ALS Society of Quebec would like to thank the event’s key sponsor, TELUS Health, and its main sponsors Mr Muffler, Mobil Oil, Globe Multimédia and Cycle Néron as well as the Espace 4 Saisons’ team for their generous hospitality.
ALS by the numbers
- More commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease that attacks the body’s nerve cells, and is usually fatal within five years. The cause is unknown and there is no effective treatment.
- People living with ALS gradually lose their ability to walk, speak, swallow, and breathe. They become prisoners within their own bodies, without losing their intellectual faculties.
- In Canada, 2,500 to 3,000 people are living with ALS, including 600 in Quebec;
- For every new ALS diagnosis, 1 person dies of ALS;
- ALS can affect anyone: 90% of cases are random and 10% of cases are hereditary.
About the ALS Society of Quebec
The ALS Society of Quebec is a non-profit community organization that provides programs and services to families touched by ALS during all stages of the disease. Promoting, subsidizing, and advancing research on the causes, treatment, and cure of ALS are also integral parts of the Society’s mission, which survives on donations and proceeds from various fundraising events.
For more information or to make a donation: als-quebec.ca
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Photos
Hi-resolution photos are available for download on our Flickr account. Photo credit is included in the file’s name. https://www.flickr.com/gp/slaquebec/cwqZbx
Source
Claudine Cook, Executive Director, ALS Society of Quebec
1 877 725-7725, ext.: 101 (office) | 514-285-0540 (mobile) | ccook@sla-quebec.ca
Roxanne Goulet, Communications Coordinator, ALS Society of Quebec
1 877 725-7725, ext.: 102 (office) | rgoulet@sla-quebec.ca
