Walk co-ordinator needed for ALS fundraiser
(Letters) Tuesday, 04 December 2007, 22:28 PST
-- Doug Coletti Prince George


ALS - Lou Gehrig’s disease. Five years ago I couldn’t spell the name Gehrig much less amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. ALS - three letters that change lives forever.

A recent Citizen article posed the title, “Learning to live with ALS.” The sad reality is that ALS has a 100-per-cent mortality rate. Ninety-five per cent of ALS patients die within three to five years of the onset of the disease. ALS patients are typically diagnosed in the second or third year of the onset of the disease. By the time ALS is diagnosed, life expectancy is half over.

An anomaly of ALS is the disease seems to steal the most outgoing individuals. Studies to find commonalities in ALS victims have revealed recurring adjectives to describe the personalities of its victims...”outgoing, enthusiastic, passionate, gregarious.”

ALS weakens and atrophies the body's voluntary muscles including speech, movement and swallowing. ALS rarely affects the brain. Try to envision the most outgoing person in your life and consider The Citizen story on how ALS patient Ned Vukovic describes his life. “You’re living in a glass coffin.”

Your life experiences locked inside a body that cannot function or communicate but with 100-per-cent brain capacity.

So why have I written this letter? The Prince George Walk for ALS committee needs a walk co-ordinator. We have a strong and established committee that has an excellent and successful template for our annual Walk for ALS held at the Masich Place Stadium.

Our committee members are established in our roles but we need a co-ordinator who can oversee and communicate with committees, ALSBC and the community at large.

Advertising for the position has been unsuccessful so I have finally submitted to writing to the editor for help in our quest. My theory is that people are afraid of taking on too much. We have the template, we have the committees, we have a successful and profitable event but we need a walk co-ordinator. It’s a rewarding role, especially if you enjoy interacting with others. If you are at all interested, please give us a call. 1-800-708-3228; or the website: www.alsbc.ca, or in Prince George contact me at 562-7282

-- Doug Coletti

Prince George

http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/i...978&Itemid=264