2025 Alberta Walk Together for ALS!

The Alberta Walk Together for ALS is the only Canadian fundraiser in support of those living with and affected by ALS in Alberta. Thanks to the incredible support of our volunteers, there will be several Walks throughout the province in 2025, raising funds for client support services and research in Alberta. To host a virtual Walk Together for ALS, or a live event in your community, send us an email.

To ensure your support stays in Alberta and funds the most promising research, please donate/register to the Alberta Walk Together for ALS as described above.

Walk Dates

Altario
June 7

Cold Lake
June 7
Lakeland Lutheran Church

Camrose
June 14
Mirror Lake Park

Drayton Valley
June 14
Lions West Valley Park

Edmonton
June 14
Rundle Park

2025 Edmonton Ambassador, Hashem Melhem!

Each year, the Edmonton Walk Together for ALS Committee selects an Ambassador, who helps raise awareness about what it is like to live with ALS. We are proud to introduce Hashem Melhem as the 2025 Ambassador for the Edmonton Walk Together for ALS!

It’s a disease that takes and takes, piece by piece, until it feels like there’s nothing left but uncertainty and loss.

The day I was diagnosed, the world around me blurred. Questions flooded my mind: What does this mean? What will happen to my wife? My kids? My life? Questions that don’t go away as ALS progresses but linger in the background even today, as I focus on the present and try to see my world through a different lens.

Despite the challenges, I’ve been fortunate to share in life’s most precious moments. I walked my daughter, my baby girl, down the aisle and into the arms of the man she chose to spend her life with. I remember thinking, I hope he’ll love her even a fraction as much as I do. I also stood beside my son as he vowed to love and protect his wife for the rest of their lives. I’ve watched both of my children step into new chapters of adulthood, and for that, I am incredibly grateful.

And now, I have the joy of watching another chapter unfold: I’m becoming a grandfather this year. My son and his wife are expecting their first child in April, and my daughter and her husband will welcome their baby in June. Even in the face of ALS, life continues to offer beautiful gifts.

ALS is unpredictable, and this journey is not mine alone. It belongs to my family too. My wife, my greatest love, is also my caregiver. Every day she shows a depth of strength, patience, and compassion that leaves me in awe. Our children lift both of us up, offering support in ways I never expected, but will always cherish deeply.

We haven’t faced this journey alone. The ALS Society of Alberta and the ALS Clinic have been essential lifelines. From loans of vital equipment to emotional support, their dedication has made an immeasurable difference in our lives. Alberta Health Services has also stepped in with kindness and care, sending therapists and specialists into our home, helping us adapt and navigate each new challenge.

Managing ALS is about more than just medical care, it takes a community. It’s the doctors who monitor every change, the friends who reach out just to remind me I’m not alone, and the small acts of kindness that carry me through my hardest days. Each person plays a role in building a network of support that sustains not just the body, but the spirit.

I spent my life working toward a well-earned retirement, one I pictured filled with rest and reflection. This might not be the retirement I imagined, but it is the one I have, and I meet it with gratitude. Gratitude for my wife, my family, my friends, and the community walking this path with us.

This year, I want you to walk for them. I want you to walk for everyone facing this disease. Please join us at Rundle Park on June 14, 2025, for Edmonton’s Walk Together for ALS, because none of us should have to face ALS alone.

2025 Red Deer Ambassador, Mike Olver!

I spent over 20 years at Prairie College, where they provided me with a wonderful opportunity to serve the community I loved (and perfect my golf game)! Life was full, and I was exactly where I wanted to be.  

Then, about 24 months ago, my body started sending me signals. Tingling. Twitching. A foot that refused to take a simple step. Test after test gave no answers, until hearing the doctor say three letters on March 13, 2024: “ALS”. They hung heavy in the air around me. Thinking to myself, “I’ve always been strong and active; how can this be?” It was a peculiar sense of relief to finally know, after so many months of not. The shock threatened to overwhelm us, and the silent drive home was almost unbearable as we wondered how we were going to tell our children who were anxiously awaiting news. 

ALS is relentless and unpredictable. It takes, little by little, and forces you to adapt. My left side is weaker than my right, but I’m still here, I’m still moving forward, and I still remind myself daily: I’m not dying from ALS; I’m living with ALS. And my life, even now, is filled with moments of kindness, love, and unexpected joy.  

In the summer of 2024, we took several wonderful trips to places like Oklahoma, Montana, and Ontario, not knowing so many would bless our socks off. We also travelled to Seattle, WA, to watch my Toronto Blue Jays play the Seattle Mariners, and what a memorable trip it was! As we’ve connected with extended family, dear friends, and fellow classmates, we have been rewarded over and over with incredible support and encouragement. 

Bev is my rock, my caregiver, my partner in all of this. Our children, our friends, and our community have lifted us in ways we never imagined. The ALS Society of Alberta has been an incredible support, helping us navigate this new reality with resources, equipment, and compassion. We don’t walk this path alone. 

As a young man, I valued strength and the ability to be active, never thinking that those days would come to such an end. Where do we turn when life leads us into a new season that we weren’t prepared for? With the help of my parents, I came to know Jesus as a young boy and have never regretted the decision to follow him. Why would we not count our blessings? Research into the disease holds promise, but there is no getting away from the fact that one day, sooner than we’d planned, I may very well be changing my address and meeting my Saviour face-to-face. In spite of the difficult path that lies ahead, however, I remind myself often how blessed I am.  

This is why I invite you to join me at Red Deer’s Walk Together for ALS on June 22, 2025 at Bower Ponds. Walk for those of us living with ALS. Walk for the families and loved ones behind us, walk for the caregivers beside us, and walk for a future ahead of us without ALS. Together, we will make a difference. 

2025 Cold Lake Ambassador, Doug Lee!

I am honoured to be chosen as the 2025 Ambassador for the Cold Lake Walk Together for ALS on June 7.

My journey with ALS started around June 2023. I noticed that I was having a hard time gripping things like my coffee mug with my left hand. My arm felt weaker when I was working on things around the house and garage. I initially thought it was the start of arthritis. My family doctor referred me to a Neurologist who was concerned about my symptoms, which included weakness, muscle loss, and muscle twitching. The Neurologist sent me for nerve testing (EMG) on Dec 5, 2023. It was at this EMG appointment that the doctor told my wife and me the devastating news; the diagnosis appeared to be ALS. It was a complete shock. We were stunned.

“What next? What does this mean?” I had no idea what my future would hold, but I knew it wasn’t good. It broke our hearts to tell our two daughters that I have ALS. Would our three grandchildren be able to even understand? I began breaking the difficult news to other family members.

The love and support I immediately got from my family and close friends was heartwarming. The strength our daughters have shown over these past two years is a blessing. My wife has been my sole caretaker and my rock. They are with me every step of the way. They are actively involved in my treatment plan and have attended each appointment at the Kaye Clinic and the ALS Clinic. They have found ways to support me as I adapt to changes and challenges.

I have always been a hands-on guy. Working jobs that require being outdoors no matter the weather, using tools, maintaining vehicles, repairing small engines, and managing my own small business. I love to spend time with my grandkids, camping and walking outside. Now, with the progression of my ALS, I am unable to use my left arm/hand. The strength in my right arm, legs and torso has also begun to rapidly decline. The changes and challenges have limited my ability to do the things I enjoy, but I try to remain positive every day.

Along with my ALS, I also live with Vascular Dementia. This is another obstacle for me and my family, as this disease is progressing as well.

The support I receive from the Kaye Clinic, ALS Clinic, and ALS Society of Alberta is always compassionate and caring. The ALS Society of Alberta has been a great resource for me and my family through phone call check-ins, access to support groups, and especially their Equipment Loan Program. The equipment needed to function with ALS can be expensive and daunting to obtain, so we are beyond grateful for the help of the ALS Society of Alberta.

I have made walking a priority over the last several years of my life. I enjoy the peaceful time spent while making miles outside, no matter the season or weather. I will continue to walk for as long as my body allows me to, even though I have slowed down and am unable to go as far.

Join us on June 7th at Lakeland Lutheran Church, Cold Lake, as I walk with my family, friends, and loved ones in support of those living with ALS. Let’s make a difference, together.

2025 Drayton Valley Ambassador, David MacLean!

Living with ALS is challenging. As my mobility declines, constant adaptation becomes necessary. The loss of motor skills, while the mind remains clear, is mentally difficult—it’s a constant reminder of what’s changing and what’s being lost.

In the midst of these challenges, I’ve leaned into the things I love. For years, I had wanted to digitize my extensive LP, CD, and cassette collection. This past year, I finally took on the project. It’s brought me real satisfaction. As friends and family learned what I was doing, many reached out for copies of the music. To date, I’ve digitized over 19,000 tracks. I can listen for days without hearing the same song twice.

Cars have also been a lifelong passion. Over my lifetime, I’ve had 75 different vehicles. My last personal project—a 1952 BelAir—is now being enjoyed by my nephew and his family. Another, a 1951 BelAir, went to a friend who still shares his progress with me and includes me in decisions to keep me involved. A few years ago, I also helped a friend with the restoration of two 1970 Chevy C10s. One of those trucks is now featured on the LMC Trucks website, and I continue to consult on it.

Lately, my wife and I have taken on another meaningful project—cataloguing decades’ worth of family photos. We’ve looked through thousands of images, reaching back as far as the late 1800s. It’s been a beautiful reminder of the life we’ve shared and the memories we’ve made. These projects have helped keep my mind engaged. They’ve brought purpose and have helped me manage the emotional toll of ALS.

What’s made the biggest difference, though, is the unwavering support from family and friends. Not a week goes by without a phone call or visit, and often, there are several. People have travelled long distances just to spend time with us. Their presence and kindness are deeply meaningful.

Last June, I was truly humbled at the Drayton Valley Walk Together for ALS. So many supporters came—friends, family, former coworkers I hadn’t seen in over 30 years. Teams were formed, stories were shared, and the atmosphere was filled with care and connection. It was a powerful day of reunion and support for those living with ALS.

While there is a lot of public concern about healthcare, our personal experience has been overwhelmingly positive. The ALS Clinic, the ALS Society of Alberta, Home Care, Urgent Care, and Respiratory Services—each of them has shown compassion, dedication, and care.

It’s an honour to once again serve as the Drayton Valley Walk Together for ALS Ambassador. Being part of this event helps build a stronger, more supportive community for individuals and families facing ALS. It raises vital funds for equipment, services, and research here in Alberta.

ALS has changed my path—but not my spirit. And I’m grateful for every hand that’s helped me along the way.

Please, join me on June 14 at Lions West Valley Park, as we Walk Together for ALS.

Sponsorship

Walk Together for ALS is made possible by a wonderful group of sponsors. If your brand would like to partner with the 2025 Walk Together for ALS, please review our sponsorship opportunities here or reach out to info@alsab.ca