ALS Awareness Month
Kim Carter (far left), President-CEO of the ALS Society of NB & NS, with the BRC team Neuro Nerds at the 2022 ALS Walk Strong.
For ALS Awareness Month in Canada, the BRC is shining a light on the ALS Society of NB & NS and President-CEO Kim Carter.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, is a neurodegenerative disease that affects neurons in the brain and spinal cord, causing progressive loss of muscle control. The disease is commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, named after the famed baseball player who received a diagnosis in 1939. 80 years after his death, the ALS Society of Canada started observing Lou Gehrig’s Day to commemorate the baseball player and offers a fitting start to ALS Awareness Month in Canada.
Kim Carter is the CEO/President of the ALS Society of New Brunswick & Nova Scotia, and a partner of the Brain Repair Centre. The goal of the Society, in Kim’s words, “is to help people live their best lives in the wake of an ALS diagnosis. We can’t change the outcome, but we can change the journey.”
Kim has been with the Society for over 12 years, Kim is proud of the work they’ve accomplished. “It’s difficult for families to afford the equipment that is needed for patients with ALS,” she said. “In the last year, we’ve loaned out $557,000 worth of equipment, which is a significant milestone.”
The main programming the Society offers is equipment loan. On average, a person requires about five pieces of equipment, such as specialized wheelchairs, speech-to-text communication devices, breathing machines and/or bath assistant equipment. On top of this, the Society offers support groups, they help individuals and families navigate the healthcare system, and advocacy through spreading awareness, fundraising and community outreach.
“We’ve been in constant contact with 162 families in 2021,” she said. Through these services, Kim and the Society are able to consistently provide significant support when they don’t know where to turn. “Not many people have that kind of money lying around, so we can provide the necessary equipment to manage their lives better.”
The Society is able to provide these services through their fundraising efforts, most significantly the ALS Walk Strong. “It’s our biggest fundraiser, which raises 50% of our annual revenue. We’re very excited to be back in person this year.”
In 2021, the ALS Walk Strong saw their second-highest walk ever, despite the pandemic.
The BRC has supported the Society over the years, through collaborative events held at the BRC and donations made to the Society. Every year, members of the BRC participate in the walk under the group “Neuro Nerds.”
“We need to shine a light on the research and talent being done in our own backyard,” she said, referring to the research at the BRC. “By cross-supporting, we can raise awareness for each other’s work…we can all work together for the good of everyone.”
ALS Awareness Month in Canada takes place in June, while Lou Gehrig’s Day is observed on June 2 as of 2021.
The ALS Society of Canada’s website offers resources and ways to give back at https://als.ca/
BRC team Neuro Nerds at the 2022 ALS Walk Strong