The Move to Cure ALS is the annual signature fundraising event for the ALS Society of British Columbia, which brings together family and friends in support of ALS during the month of June at various locations around B.C. and the Yukon.

The goal is to end ALS through creating a world-class ALS Centre at UBC. All net proceeds to the ALS Society of British Columbia will remain in B.C. to support patient services programs (60 per cent) and research (40 per cent) through ALS B.C. Project Hope.

Among the many Move to Cure ALS locations across B.C. is the newly-expanded West Kootenay/Boundary Move to Cure ALS taking place at Gyro Park in Trail on Saturday, June 14. Twenty-four years ago, the first ALS Walk in British Columbia happened in Nelson, organized by a passionate community citizen who was diagnosed with the disease, Gord Shannon.

In recent years, it was organized by Trail’s Pam Caron in loving tribute to her best friend, Aladina Sheets, who passed in 2024.

“We carry it forward with loving care and we have expanded participant involvement for the

entire West Kootenay-Boundary; that’s from Crawford Bay all the way to Rock Creek. We can only carry this forward, carrying the need for awareness, funds for research and support for those with ALS with you. We need the helpers,” said 2025 event co-organizer Helen Bobbitt.

As of November, 2024, ALS B.C.’s patient support program also reaches those who may be awaiting a potential ALS diagnosis.

“There is so much more to understand and this is why we need to support ALS B.C. and the important work they do,” said 2025 event co-organizer Wendy Marten.

“So much has happened since 2001: How this disease is approached medically, researched and how those diagnosed and their loved ones can be supported. People living with ALS, those in their loving circle of care and support and those who we remember in memory are why we ‘Move.’”

Trail’s Helen Bobbitt and Fruitvale’s Wendy Marten are organizing the 2025 event.

“My close friend, Lee Marten, originally from Fruitvale, received the confirmed diagnosis of ALS this past January,” Helen said. “This was after waiting about a year and a half of thinking it was actually something else.

“Behind the words, ‘You have ALS’ are those being told that story. Then there are the children, the brothers, sisters, cousins, the mothers and fathers and the close friends that those living with ALS have to tell that news to.

“The entire circle of support of that person feels it. Of course, there is much needed money to be raised, but there are also stories to be told and we need to connect with others, for you are not alone.

• People are asked to join and register to come celebrate all of the hard work that will be done over the next 10 weeks on June 14 at Gyro Park in Trail.

Register and donate here.