‘Tri’ing to End ALS’ comes to Yellowknife

A couple from BC are coming to Yellowknife as part of their goal to participate in triathlons across every Canadian province and territory, raising awareness and funds for ALS research and treatment.

Donna Bartel and Mike Pearson will compete in the Midnight Sun Triathlon in Yellowknife on July 6 as part of their fundraising mission, “Tri’ing to End ALS.”

Funds raised will go toward supporting patient service programs provided by ALS societies across Canada, and toward research through UBC’s Project Hope, which helps ALS patients access clinical trials in BC and learn more about treatment options.

In all, the couple plan to compete in 18 triathlons across Canada. The Midnight Sun Triathlon will be number eight.

“Other diseases get lots and lots of funds to help with their research,” said Bartel. “There’s over 3,000 people in Canada with ALS and it’s a very expensive disease.”

She said her triathlon campaign is about “providing more awareness and letting people know more work and research needs to be done.”

ALS – amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease – is a terminal disease that prevents the brain from being able to control the body’s muscles, resulting in gradually increased paralysis. There is no known cause or cure. The life expectancy of a person following diagnosis is typically two to four years.

Bartel and Pearson both have a personal interest in fundraising for ALS care and research.

Pearson’s great-uncle was diagnosed with ALS in 1940. In 1999, Bartel’s mother, Marilyn Walters, was diagnosed with ALS. The following year, Bartel and her sister competed in the Vancouver Marathon to raise money.

From 2001 until 2008, Bartel and her sister organized “Run, Walk and Roll for ALS,” a five-kilometre run fundraiser. In 2010 and 2012, Bartel competed in the Ironman Canada triathlon for the same cause.

Finding triathlons across Canada and completing them all in a summer is their latest attempt to raise awareness.

“You hear those three letters, like when my mom was diagnosed, and literally, it is a death sentence,” said Bartel.

“Often patients are told, go home and get your things in order.

“I think this is providing hope. knowing that there’s people out there that care about them.”

Pearson told Cabin Radio mapping the road trip through Canada to get to each triathlon was difficult.

“It’s not hard to find out where they are,” said Pearson. “Some of the provinces don’t have as many, so just fitting them into the schedule is a bit of a challenge.”

Bartel and Pearson said they were looking forward to experieneing “another small-town triathlon” while continuing to garner support for ALS patients.

As the Northwest Territories does not have an ALS Society, the ALS Society of Alberta provides patient support services to people with ALS living in the NWT.

Bartel and Pearson said that by competing in every province and territory across Canada, more awareness and funds can be directed toward people with ALS in areas that may lack supports.

“Fifty percent of the funds raised in each province and territory stay with that ALS society for patient services,” said Bartel. Those funds will go toward providing equipment like wheelchairs or speaking and breathing machines that help people living with ALS to achieve the best quality of life.

The couple hope to raise $600,000 for Project Hope and ALS societies.

“We need to really step up the research and trying to find, if not a cure, then at least a treatment that is substantial,” said Bartel.

Bartel and Pearson are documenting their progress on their blog.