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Derek Woollam, Special to the Beaver

TAKING UP THE FIGHT


Kaitlynn Roberts, with her mother Debbie and father Bob, began raising money for ALS in Grade 8 after her uncle was diagnosed with the disease. The 17-year-old has raised more than $5,000 in the past three years.


Derek Woollam, Special to the Beaver


TAKING UP THE FIGHT Kaitlynn Roberts, with her mo...

Derek Woollam, Special to the Beaver

TAKING UP THE FIGHT Kaitlynn Roberts, with her mother Debbie and father Bob, began raising money for ALS in Grade 8 after her uncle was diagnosed with the disease. The 17-year-old has raised more than $5,000 in the past three years.
Roberts helps family fight ALS by raising funds, awareness
By Paloma Migone, Special to the Beaver

News
Apr 12, 2008
Kaitlynn Roberts is making a difference once again.
The 17-year-old launched her annual fundraising for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. It's a cause she has been working on since the tender age of 14 after her uncle Peter Kostuik died from the disease.

"I saw how hard it hit my dad when he died and how hard it hit my family. It's really upsetting seeing your family that way," said Roberts, an Oakville Trafalgar student.

Kostuik is one of 14 relatives who have died of ALS and his three siblings--Paul Kostuik, Patricia Snow, and Pam McFarlin--are fighting the fatal, rapidly progressive disease today.

"I feel so bad because people at their age right now can still move completely fine on their own, but they can't anymore. Their life is flashing before their eyes. They don't have much time left."

Early symptoms of ALS consist of muscle loss, difficulty swallowing, shortness of breath and trouble speaking. Once progressed, ALS paralyzes voluntary muscles. The neuromuscular disease affects close to 3,000 Canadians, roughly 1,000 reside in Ontario.

Every day, two to three Canadians die of ALS; 80 percent lose their lives within five years of diagnosis; close to 20 per cent can survive up to 10 years with the disease; the rest die within months. ALS usually takes its course when chest muscles prevent oxygen from properly entering the lungs.

Only five to 10 per cent of ALS cases are genetically linked, meaning the disease is passed down in the family--Roberts' family is part of the minute statistic.

"It's really upsetting that our family has gotten it and how rare it is, but if we have it, we have it and we'll have to deal with it and it will just bring our family closer. It's a terrible disease, but at least we'll all there for each other."

In Peter Kostuik's memory, Roberts began a group called Peter's Path in 2005. Her goal was to raise money, awareness and join annual ALS Society of Ontario walks. A Grade 8 student at the time, Roberts hoped to raise $500, but Peter's Path managed to make a $2,020 contribution to ALS.

"It shows that people do care and there's hope. I figured if I could do this one year, why can't I do it the next and the next."

Peter's Path started with 25 members and now has 40, mostly consisting of family and friends. Roberts raises money by selling Freezies, going door-to-door and hangs flyers about ALS around her school. Last year, Pizza Pizza sponsored her cause.

"I try to motivate my peers to go out in these walks, to participate and educate them more about the disease because a lot of people don't know about it."

In the last three years, Roberts has raised $5,220. Her goal is to raise $1,000 this year and she currently has $845, putting her $3,935 away from her target of raising $10,000 by 2009.

Roberts is aware she has a higher chance of getting ALS than her friends, but the startling fact does not scare her. If the disease affected her life, she would use it to empower the cause.

"If I did get it, I would use it to my advantage," said Roberts, who looks to the legacy of Terry Fox for inspiration. "I would do something so big that it inspired others to do the same."

To donate, visit http://www.als.ca/events/mysite.aspx?fid=1643 or call 905-829-9960.

WALK for ALS will be held in 25 communities across Ontario. Halton's Walk takes place May 19 at Bronte Creek Provincial Park, 1219 Burloak Dr. Registration begins at 1 p.m. and the walk starts at 2 p.m. For more information, visit http://www.alsont.ca/events/walkforals/

http://www.oakvillebeaver.com/news/article/168153