The Walk with Kari to End ALS was created by the many friends and family of Kari Evans in her memory. Kari was a one of a kind lady who was admired by everyone around her. She was a wife to her husband Dale and mother to her two kids Shanelle and Bryson, as well as a beloved friend by many. In short, Kari was sunshine. She was never seen without a smile or a skip in her step. She was known for her loud contagious laugh and her happy personality. She enjoyed life and all the little things. A couple of her favourite things included going for a run and having coffee on her deck in the sunshine. Kari was diagnosed on August 12, 2019. Kari was a runner. She loved to run as it was one of her favourite pastimes. She had noticed weakness in her leg that kept getting worse. The diagnosis hit hard, as she had just recently lost her mom to the same battle, just a couple of months previous. She had just watched it all take place and then with her own diagnosis, watched her world come crumbling down. This was the point in time when we discovered that we are dealing with Familial ALS. This type runs in family genes.
First, it was Kari’s Grandmother, then her mom and now her. As hard as it was for her and for everyone around her discovering that diagnosis, she had hope. Shortly after her diagnosis, she was enrolled in a clinical trial that took place in Montreal. Kari constantly looked for the positive side of every situation and kept her spirits as high as possible. She was the person that helped the people around her look for the brighter side of every situation and knew that everything happens for a reason. She loved all the doctors, nurses and researchers that she came across, and they loved Kari. Travelling to Montreal every couple of weeks wasn't easy. It especially became hard when Covid hit and travelling was limited. Soon enough Edmonton opened a clinic where she could get her treatments.
Eventually, those trips got harder and Kari’s mobility became the limiting factor for her to be able to travel to get the treatments. Kari passed away on November 14, 2020, with family and friends by her side. Kari’s community is determined to not let her legacy die so last year, with the help of the ALS Society of Alberta, they have created the “Walk with Kari to End ALS” fundraiser. Once again this year we will gather as a community to raise money and awareness to help get one step closer to finding a cure. It is also a way to carry on a tradition to help her keep fighting from heaven and have a day we all come together to remember our amazing friend.