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Kamloops Symphony Music School ❚ | PAGE 5 VOLUME 16 NUMBER 22 | 50¢
JUNE 8, 2017
8th Annual Walk Fights Against ALs On the morning of June 17th, individuals, families, and teams will gather in Riverside Park to walk, fundraise, and raise awareness for the fight against Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. June is ALS Awareness month, and awareness is a key component of the walk, as one of the struggles in the fight against ALS is a lack of understanding. In general, those who are lucky enough to have their lives untouched by this terrible disease are vaguely aware that ALS is a debilitating and serious illness, but many are unsure of the specifics. 3,500 Canadians are presently diagnosed with ALS, and it is probable that many more suffer undiagnosed. ALS symptoms are very similar to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, making it difficult to diagnose. Often, it is diagnosed through process of elimination. Onset at age 60 is common, but younger sufferers are far from rare. The cause of ALS is still largely mysterious, and there is currently no cure. The disease attacks the body’s nervous system, and as the degeneration goes on, it causes various functions to stop working properly. Victims lose their ability to use fine motor skills such as writing or fastening buttons, and later, it becomes difficult to walk or stand, to speak or swallow, and finally, to breathe. ALS works quickly, although about 15% of known cases progress more slowly, such as in renowned theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking’s case.
WALK To SAVE LIVES This year’s walk will be the 8 Annual Walk for ALS. The event is emotionally charged for a lot of people, since there is always a strong turnout of people who know or knew an ALS victim. Many of the participants are teams based around the support of a loved one with ALS. Over the years, the walk has formed a strong network of support for families and friends of ALS victims in the community. “It’s like a reunion,” said Kamloops Walk Coordinator Pat Tomlinson, adding that some people who have forged strong connections through the event only get to see each other at the Walk. th
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Allies in the fight against ALS will meet at the Bandstand in Riverside Park at 10:00. The gathering will be entertained by live music from local band Caught in the Act, whose popular rock and roll sound was a big hit in last year’s walk. Participants are asked to dress appropriately for the weather, and are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy after the walk. The fundraising goal for this year’s walk is $35,000 for the Kamloops area, OPHI and the Kamloops community has al- QUEEN ready raised over $19,000 in online do- $
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