Under clear skies with the Columbia River flowing nearby, hundreds gathered — some with their canine companions — at Gyro Park in Trail on Saturday for the 2025 West Kootenay–Boundary Move to Cure ALS.
Communities from Kaslo to Crawford Bay and as far as Rock Creek stood shoulder to shoulder in a united stand against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), raising over $18,500, with more than $14,500 coming from online donations.
An additional $800 was contributed by the “Cooking to Cure ALS” barbeque group, and on-site donations exceeded $3,600, reflecting the generosity and spirit of the community.
The event holds deep personal meaning for organizers Helen Bobbitt, Wendy Marten, and Deanna Sellars, each of whom has been directly affected by the disease.
Vancouver Police Department Sgt. Lee Marten, a close friend of Bobbitt’s, was diagnosed with ALS in January 2025.
His mother, Wendy Marten, joined Helen in organizing the event, united by urgency and purpose.
They were accompanied by Sellars, who lost her father to ALS in November 2024.
Together, the three women transformed grief into action, creating a day that was as heartfelt as it was hopeful.
Bobbitt, whose message to people living with ALS is “We got you,” exemplified the spirit of this year’s walk.
“This isn’t just Trail’s event, it belongs to the entire West Kootenay–Boundary region,” said Bobbitt. “ALS doesn’t recognize borders, and neither does our support. We’re here to remind people they’re not alone.”
One of the day’s most poignant moments came when Sgt. Marten appeared via FaceTime, sharing a message that moved many in the crowd.
His words served as a powerful reminder of the deeply personal stakes in the fight against ALS, bringing the cause into sharp focus.
This year’s event built on the foundation laid by former coordinator Pam Caron, whose 2024 efforts raised over $60,000 in honour of her friend, the late healthcare worker Aladina Sheets, who passed away shortly before last year’s event.
“West Kootenay–Boundary continues to lead by example,” said Donald Miyazaki, executive director of ALS BC.
“This region has shown time and again that when it comes to compassion and commitment, they’re second to none.”
The ALS Society of BC extends gratitude to the West Kootenay-Boundary community, participants, and the three event coordinators.
“The countless volunteers, and generous sponsors whose support was invaluable,” the society says. “Your collective generosity continues to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve.”
The Move to Cure ALS fundraising program has a goal of raising $500,000 in 2025 through 24 in-person and virtual events across communities in B.C. and the Yukon.
ALS BC’s patient services programs, such as the Robert R. Heinrich Equipment Loan Program, receive 60 per cent of proceeds raised.
The remaining 40 per cent supports ALS BC Project Hope, the society’s research initiative led by Dr. Erik Pioro at the University of British Columbia.
Although the event has concluded, the opportunity to contribute remains.
Donations are gratefully accepted online until the end of the year.
ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.
The disease gradually destroys the motor neurons responsible for controlling voluntary muscle movement, leading to muscle weakness, paralysis, and eventually the inability to speak, eat, move, or breathe.
While the body deteriorates, cognitive function is usually preserved.
ALS can affect anyone but is most commonly diagnosed in people between the ages of 40 and 70.
Approximately 80 per cent of people diagnosed die within two to five years.
The exact cause of ALS is still unknown.
About 90 per cent of cases are sporadic, meaning they occur without a family history.
For more information, visit www.movetocureals.ca.
