Caledon and Georgetown raise more than $37K in Walk to End ALS

June 5, 2025 · 0 Comments

By Riley Murphy

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Georgetown and Caledon communities came together at Terra Cotta Conservation Area to join the ALS Canada Walk to End ALS.

The walk raised critical funds for ALS Canada’s programs and services, including access to community-based support, essential assistive equipment, and trusted information for people with ALS and their families.

Kim Barry, Vice President of Community Services at ALS Canada, was at the walk and said that despite the cold weather, more than 200 people showed up to walk with ALS Canada.

In the walk alone, they raised over $37,000.

June is ALS Awareness Month, and ALS Canada will continue to host these types of walks throughout the month, with approximately 22 in total; this was one of the first.

“The community always rallies behind ALS. It’s one of the diseases that people who’ve been affected by ALS, they support, whether they’re individuals living with ALS now or if they lost a loved one 20 years ago,” shared Barry.

With the money raised, ALS Canada has three mission areas: research, community services and equipment, and advocacy.

They help people living with ALS in the community navigate the healthcare system and provide support to them.

Their equipment program can provide 40 different items from their loan program that people can access based on their needs – everything from a walker to a hospital bed and anything in between that they would need in terms of the progression of this disease.

ALS Canada can provide that to them at no cost.

Barry shared that one of her favourite moments from the walk this year was seeing Team McKenzie Tulach Ard.

“Colin Mackenzie is an individual who’s living with ALS. His team raised over $16,000 and Colin and his family were the ribbon-cutters of this year’s walk,” said Barry.

Barry shares that this isn’t the first time this team has supported the fundraising, and she remarked that it’s great how much they work to bring awareness to the disease.

Barry has been with ALS Canada for 12 years and shared that she’s come to know these families and their family stories over the years.

“People are really committed to ALS and they just keep coming back year after year. For some people, it’s really about honouring the loss they have; they know that their loved one is no longer with them, but they still come out and represent their family and participate in the walk. It doesn’t matter where people walk. Yes, the walk is a location, but some people want to walk in their backyard or their own community, it’s really about just helping us bring the awareness to ALS,” said Barry.

Barry shared that their goal at ALS Canada is to make sure people have the support they need while they’re dealing with such a devastating illness, and she hopes more people understand that it can impact anyone.

“Getting involved in an event like the walk, it’s one thing to be able to come as a family who’s lost somebody, but encouraging our families to really come out and build connection. Truthfully, the walk is about community. And that is what we would want people to know,” said Barry.

To participate in a walk or donate, visit walktoendals.ca/participate-or-donate/ontario/