From August 25th to 27th, 200 cyclists and volunteers gathered at Château Vaudreuil to celebrate the 10th edition of the Ride to Fight ALS powered by TELUS Health, a cycling event benefitting the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Society of Quebec. Participants rode between 70km and 300km over 1, 2 or 3 days in the Vaudreuil-Soulanges region and took part in a “Magical Evening” benefit dinner. $400,000 has been raised to date to support families touched by ALS in Quebec with personalized programs and services. Funds will also support pan-canadian research.
A Magical Evening to help make ALS disappear
On Saturday August 26th, 380 guests were entertained and amazed by Magician and Illusionist, Alain Choquette. Other special guests included, former NHLer and hockey analyst, PJ Stock, former Alouette Peter Dalla Riva, race car drive Isabelle Tremblay and former Expos Claude Raymond. Montreal Canadiens legend Yvon Lambert entertained guests while hosting a live auction. Former Montreal Expos Tim Raines, who was recently inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame, prepared a video message as he donated autographed jerseys to help strike Lou Gehrig’s disease.
A few facts about the 2017 Ride to Fight ALS:
- The 10th Edition of the Ride to Fight ALS took place August 25-27 at Château Vaudreuil;
- 200 volunteers and cyclists of all levels participated in the event;
- The Ride to Fight ALS was made up of four events: a two and three-day cycling challenge, a one-day cycling challenge for all ages, and the Magical Evening benefit dinner on Saturday evening;
- The Ride to Fight ALS raises awareness for ALS and collects money to support research and maintain the quality of services offered to patients and their loved ones across the province;
Since 2008, the Ride to Fight ALS has been the Society’s flagship event, with cyclists of all backgrounds participating and raising $2 million to this day. The ALS Society of Quebec would like to thank the event’s key sponsor, TELUS Health, and Château Vaudreuil for its generous hospitality.
About ALS
More commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease that attacks the body’s nerve cells, and is usually fatal within two to five years. As motor neurons are destroyed, persons with ALS lose their ability to walk, speak, swallow, and breathe. They become prisoners within their own bodies, without losing their intellectual faculties. The cause is unknown and there is no effective treatment. The ALS Society of Quebec is a non-profit community organization that provides programs and services to families touched by ALS throughout each stage of the disease. Promoting, subsidizing, and advancing research on the causes, treatment, and cure for ALS are also integral parts of the Society’s mission, which survives on donations and proceeds from various fundraising events. For more information please visit: als-quebec.ca.
