Calgarians walk and run for a cure
Posted Jun 12, 2011 4:14 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Calgarians laced up their runners and pounded pavement for the 15th Annual Betty’s Run for A.L.S. and the 19th Annual Walk to Cure Diabetes.
Over 1,700 people gathered at North Glenmore Park for the Betty’s Run for A.L.S, a condition more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
The A.L.S. Society has raised about $465,000 dollars in the last 15 years, to support victims like Albertan Roger Brightwell, who was diagnosed with A.L.S. two years ago.
Rogers tells 660News, it’s events like this, which help raise awareness to the disease.
“All the basic normal things that everyone does, I need assistance in doing,” he said. “If more people that know what the disease is, there will be a better push for funding and what-not for studies. There will actually be a change, so it won’t as difficult for people in the future.”
In 2010, the A.L.S. Society assisted over 100 Calgarians living with the disease.
Elsewhere in the city, Stanley Park was a-buzz with 2,500 during the 19th Annual Walk to Cure Diabetes, in hopes to raise over $400,000
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation spokesperson Corey McKeown, says they are hoping to raise over $400,000 at today’s event which goes towards the diabetes research
“We raise about $1.4-Million in southern Alberta and about $1.6-Million in Edmonton and those dollars go directly towards research in Alberta, across the country and throughout the world.”
McKeown also tells 660News, the disease affects many Canadians.
“I can tell you that 300,000 Canadians are living with diabetes and there’s probably another 25% out there that don’t know they have it.”
