June is ALS Awareness Month. It is one month, of many, to raise awareness of ALS and how we can help people who live with it or are affected by it.
ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a disease that affects the communication between our brain and our muscles. When that communication breaks down, bodies gradually paralyze. This means that most people who are afflicted with ALS find it difficult to move and often require a wheelchair and, over time, lose the ability to walk, talk, eat, and swallow. Eventually, this break in communication between the brain and body means that even breathing ceases.
Sadly, there are currently no cures and about 80% of people who receive an ALS diagnosis live only two to five years more.
So what can we do to help? Raising awareness and raising funds for more research are top priorities.
ALS Canada has some great suggestions on their website. Some ideas include joining a fundraising event (they have a list) or even creating your own, participating in an ALS walk, or maybe volunteering. Have a look at their website for more ideas: https://www.als.ca/get-involved/.
An important reminder from Warren Lafoy who lives with ALS is to live life to the fullest, and this is great advice for everyone: “I feel like I’m not slowly dying but quickly living and my goal is to live the best life possible and make one person smile or laugh, then I have done my goal for the day!” You can read his blog post on the ALS website: http://www.alsab.ca/news/2017/6/14/june-14-warren-lafoy