ALS walk in Westville brings in $6,400
When Jimmy Campbell died several years ago after battling ALS, his buddies over at the school bus garage in Lyons Brook wanted to do something in his memory.
“There’s at least six or seven of us from the garage still doing it,” said Junior Ryan, who had been a colleague of Campbell’s and is still a member of Team Moondog (a nod to Campbell’s nickname).
”I do this because he can’t – he’s not here.”
On Saturday, Ryan and other members of Team Moondog were among the estimated group of 70 people who took part in the Pictou County ALS Walk Strong, which was held in Westville.
Ryan, who also lost another friend, Vernon Fraser, to ALS, said the group has dwindled in
numbers since they first did the walk back in 2012.
“There were about 20 of us then,” he said. But the remaining
members of the group still like to get out and support the cause.
“Hopefully we can find a
cure so that other people don’t have to go through this. It’s hard when somebody’s mind is there,” even as the body deteriorates, Ryan added. “And it’s very difficult on the friends and family who go through it.”
Sara Watters and her family started the ALS walk in Westville several years ago.
“We noticed a lot of people getting ALS and we started researching the disease, and found out how devastating it is.”
This year’s walk netted $6,400, pushing the total proceeds in the six years of the walk’s existence to slightly above the $60,000 mark.
Watters said all funds raised are given to the ALS Society of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, which uses it to help maintain its client services and equipment loan programs. Some money is also used for research that is conducted in the Maritime provinces.