Arnie and Anne Polischuk joined tens of thousands of other Canadians and millions around the world by participating in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge late this summer. It was announced last week that more than $16.2 million was raised across Canada as a direct result of the Ice Bucket Challenge. The Polischuk’s lost their son Blair to ALS more than two years ago. (Richard McGuire file photo)
An Osoyoos father who lost his son to Amyotrophic Lateral Scleroris (ALS) is thrilled Canadians helped raise more than $16 million through the overwhelming success of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge earlier this year.
The ALS Society of British Columbia announced last week that an incredible $16 million had been raised by ALS societies across Canada as a direct result of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.
This represents a record for donations to the ALS community in support of Canadians living with ALS and ALS research from one event.
A total of $16.2 million was raised due to the generosity of more than 260,000 Canadians who donated money through participation or support of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.
For those few who might not know, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge became a social media phenomenon started by numerous celebrities in the United States this past summer.
The idea caught on like wildfire across North America and around the world raising hundreds of millions of dollars for ALS research.
Participants would agree to pour a bucket of ice water over their head and challenge friends, family members, co-workers and acquaintances to do the same and make a donation to ALS research.
Arnie Polischuk, who lost his son Blair to the dreaded disease more than two years ago, said he’s thrilled that millions of dollars will go directly towards finding the cause and hopefully a cure for ALS.
“That’s great news,” said Polischuk, who moved to Osoyoos many years ago with his wife Anne. “For something that started out with a few celebrities in the United States and ended up getting so many people involved and raising many millions of dollars, it’s really quite amazing.”
Various media outlets are often criticized for their stance on certain issues, but media coverage of the Ice Bucket Challenge played an integral role in this event becoming such an overwhelming success in Canada and around the world, said Polischuk.
His son, who was an acclaimed artist and musician, would be thrilled that so many people got involved and raised such significant dollars for ALS research, said Polischuk.
“Blair used to tell me a lot that he had no doubt that a cure would be found one day and even though he knew it would be too late to help him, I’m really hopeful that all this money will help find a cure,” he said.
The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is a glowing example of positive change that can take place when regular citizens support a worthy cause, he said.
“As someone who has seen what this disease can do, I’m just very grateful,” he said. “It’s a really clear example of what can be accomplished when people get behind something. The response to this event has just been unbelievable.”
ALS Societies in Canada will invest $10 million in ALS research and $6 million in programs that deliver critical support to Canadians living with ALS.
The ALS Societies are also proud to announce that the funds for ALS research will be matched through a new research partnership with Brain Canada, bringing the total investment in ALS research to $20 million.
This is the largest one-time investment in the ALS Canada Research Program in history and has been made possible by the donations received through the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and the federal government’s Canada Brain Research Fund.
The research projects selected for funding will be announced starting as early as December 2014.
“We are incredibly grateful for all of the support and awareness for ALS in the last four months as a result of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge,” says Tammy Moore, CEO, ALS Canada. “We know donors and our community will be pleased that we have demonstrated strong stewardship of the gift we have received, and that, with the matching research funds from Brain Canada, the total impact of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is $26 million.
“We want to thank all of our donors and assure you that we understand how important this is to people and their families living with ALS.”
“On behalf of the Government of Canada, I would like to thank all those Canadians who participated in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and their support for people living with ALS and their families,” said Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health. I am pleased to say that the ALS Societies’ investment in research is being matched by the federal government’s Canada Brain Research Fund so that the donations from Canadians will be leveraged to their fullest potential. This combined investment is certain to have a transformative impact on ALS research.”
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
