So many needs, but every little bit really does help

You've seen the advertisements, had friends and family ask for donations, and probably participated in them yourself. It's a fact: walks help raise awareness and money. You know about breast cancer because of the three-day walk. The Coast-to-Coast walk for MS and the ADA walk for diabetes made you more aware of those diseases. And perhaps you've heard of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease, from hearing about the Walk to D'Feet ALS.

It seems that everywhere you turn there is a need that must be filled. It's easy to get bogged down with all the fundraisers, worthy causes and legitimate needs. Sometimes you may contemplate ignoring everything altogether. After all, the little bit you do couldn't possibly help with the big picture, right?

Gae Skager is here to tell you it does.

Skager, a woman who has been living with ALS for 4½ years, is an example of someone who has been helped by the money raised from the Walk to D'Feet ALS, put on by the ALS Association, Minnesota Chapter.

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LS is a terminal illness that attacks a person's nerves and paralyzes the muscles. Skager, a mother of three, ages 12 to 17, first noticed it when she had trouble with her hands, performing her duties as a trauma center nurse. Next the disease attacked her legs. She received a power wheelchair on loan to her from the ALS Association, Minnesota Chapter, so she could maintain normal activities like "going around Lake Harriet with my family and friends."

Eventually, a person with ALS will no longer be able to move, speak or even breathe. There is no known cure. Skager says, "I have been forced to face my mortality."

Skager does not consider herself a victim, but chooses to live her life in appreciation of each moment. "None of us are really independent," she says. She must overcome considerable challenges each day, yet she continues to enrich the lives of others. Skager uses her DynaVox computer, also loaned by the ALS Association, Minnesota Chapter, to "speak" to medical students, health care professionals, youth groups, legislators and several others in order to raise awareness for ALS.

Skager is involved with a monthly support group the Minnesota chapter offers, and it provides respite care that gives her husband a break with a home health aide to care for her a few hours twice a week.

Each year, the Minnesota chapter holds a walk to raise money and awareness in hopes of eliminating this devastating disease and to help those living with it. The Minnesota chapter is working to "fund promising research into the cause, treatment and management of ALS." The money received from the walks will also help with providing items for loan, support groups and organizing volunteers to provide respite care.

By participating in this year's Walk to D'Feet ALS, not only will you be helping people like Gae Skager, but you'll also be helping yourself. Walking is beneficial to your health in many ways. It increases your endurance, helps you lose weight, and keeps your heart healthy. Knowing you have been part of a larger effort to make people's lives better makes you a better person as well.

There is no known cause, and ALS can attack anyone at any age. An average of two people each week are diagnosed with ALS in Minnesota alone. In order to truly D'Feet ALS, the Minnesota chapter needs everyone's help. They would love for you to join them on Sept. 30. Registration begins at the Lake Harriet Bandshell at 9 a.m. (you can register the day of the walk or online at www.alsmn.org), and the walk starts at 10 a.m.

Perhaps you'll see Skager participating in the walk to help raise money and awareness. Sometimes it's hard for people to know what to do when they're around someone with a disease or disability. Skager suggests we remember we are all interdependent, look one another in the eye, smile and say hello.

Jansina Grossman, 16, of Blaine, is a junior at Bethel University, studying English literature and writing. Earlier this year, she received the President's Volunteer Gold Award and the Congressional Gold Award, in large part for her efforts to promote awareness of ALS.
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twinci...l/15550672.htm

Cahill to co-host walk to fight ALS

By NICK GARDINER

Staff Writer


SMITHS FALLS -- Lanie Cahill of Brockville will act as co-host for one of two fundraising walks this weekend sponsored by the Lanark, Leeds and Grenville chapter of the ALS Society of Ontario.

Cahill, whose husband Jim died in June 2005 after a three-year battle with the neuro-degenerative disease, will attend Saturday morning's walk based at the Smiths Falls Legion.

A second walk is scheduled for Sunday in Almonte in concert with several ALS fundraising events scheduled around the province over the weekend.

Cahill will act as co-host with Deborah Lavender, wife of Clark Lavender, who founded the local ALS chapter and who remains "a driving force for ALS," despite ongoing health problems, said event co-ordinator Sandra Burson.

Jim Cahill, a well-known athlete and outdoorsman, became a strong voice for ALS victims and campaigned actively to increase the profile of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which is also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.

Lanie Cahill has also been active in the fight to raise the profile of ALS, but she was unable to attend last year's walk because of a scheduling conflict.

Burson said the Cahills have helped draw people from the Brockville area every year to the walk and she hopes to see the support continue.

Burson said she is reluctant to state a fundraising goal for the twin walks, which combined last year to raise about $31,000 after topping $45,000 in 2004.

"I don't know if I can even say. I'd love to see between $35,000 and $40,000 to get it back up to where it was a few years ago."

A number of incentives are being offered to promote participation.

The Hudson's Bay Company has come on board as a corporate sponsor and is donating a blanket to the leading fundraiser at each walk, said Burson.

As well, all participants will receive a ball cap and people who raise over $500 receive a tote bag. Those who raise more than $1,000 will receive an embossed photo frame.

Sixty per cent of the proceeds are applied towards support and services for local people with ALS and the balance goes towards research.

Post-walk activities are open to the public and include live entertainment, a barbecue and a silent auction.

Registration for the Smiths Falls event begins at 9 a.m. and the walk starts an hour later.

Burson said participants may walk a five-kilometre route from the legion to Lower Reach Park and back. Runners looking for a workout are welcomed to complete the route twice, she said.

For pledge sheets or more information, contact Burson at 613-284-1459.

Sunday's walk at the Almonte Civitan Hall begins with registration at 9 a.m. followed an hour later by a five or 10-kilometre walk.

After the walk, the Civitan Club is holding a barbecue. Live entertainment and a silent auction will also be featured.

For more information, call 613-256-2226.


Published in Section A, page 4 in the Tuesday, September 19, 2006 edition of the Brockville Recorder & Times.
Posted 4:32:13 PM Tuesday, September 19, 2006.