Stokes International makes fourth yearly donation to Muscular Dystrophy Canada

Stokes International makes their fourth donation with a cheque for $ 6473.00 to Muscular Dystrophy Canada on behalf of all their customers as part of their yearly program that has raised to date over $ 30,955 in just four short years!

John, Kevin, David and Art during the presentation

On Monday, May 6th David Mellor, President of Stokes International, presented the cheque at this year’s Ontario Fire Chiefs Conference in Toronto to Kevin Harrison, National Director of Corporate Giving for Muscular Dystrophy Canada. Alongside for the event was John Uptegrove, Captain from Puslinch Fire and Rescue, and Art Brown, Fire Chief of Mississippi Mills Fire Services. David Mellor explained, “this is an opportunity for Stokes to help support and give back and we are pleased to be partnered with Muscular Dystrophy Canada, a truly worthy cause, and we look forward to continuing to support Muscular Dystrophy Canada for many years to come.” David went on to say that the program was initiated to help celebrate Stokes 60th year in business in 2009 and that his Grandfather, the founder of Stokes Cap and Regalia, would be proud of what they’ve been able to achieve.

Stokes International would like to thank all their customers and they look forward to raising the bar for 2014.

David Mellor was ecstatic about his group’s support, stating, “my father Lloyd Mellor is proud of our team that continues the good work and social responsibility that the Stokes team has endorsed. As a company that sells to the Fire, Police, Paramedic, EMS, Security and Military Services across this great country it’s important to remember that our customers are buying our products to continue important traditions of quality and pride in their services, and charity is a big part of those traditions.”

Stokes looks forward to telling their customers how they’re making a difference – together in the many years to come.

We couldn’t do it without you!

Kevin Harrison is the National and Ontario Director of Individual and Corporate Giving for Muscular Dystrophy Canada.

Day in the Life: Reg Bardsley, Walk for Muscular Dystrophy Volunteer Coordinator

The first North Okanagan Safeway Walk for Muscular Dystrophy was held this past Saturday, May 4^th in Vernon.  The event raised over $13,000! With over 100 people attending and seven Walk teams, the event was a success! Volunteer Walk Coordinator, Reg Bardsley, has an incredibly busy day making sure that the event runs smoothly. 

For almost 20 years Reg served on various Fire Departments and Rescue Units throughout British Columbia as a Fire Fighter/Rescue specialist. In 2002 he was diagnosed with Fasio-scapular-humoral Dystrophy, an adult onset type of muscular dystrophy that manifests with weakness at first then progressing to almost full wasting of the muscles. Reg was forced to retire from Fire fighting & Rescue. Since his diagnosis he has been an advocate of those with disabilities concerning access to transit and related handicap mobility issues.

Reg Bardsley

Reg’s Walk Day:

7:00 a.m. – Get up and have coffee (must have coffee it’s going to be a long day!) Even with all the planning I’d done, I’m thinking about all that needs to be done to make our Walk a successful day for all.

8:00 a.m. – Head off in my wheelchair loaded with items for the activities, signs for Muscular Dystrophy Canada and all the other necessary set up materials.  My wheelchair is pulling a trailer filled with stuff!

8:30 a.m. – Arrive at the venue to meet with Fermco Rentals for placement of the Porta-potties. Here comes Mike from the Lions Club to position the cook trailer for the lunch.  There are a lot of people and volunteers who make the event possible!

9:00 a.m. – Cindy and the Canada Safeway crew arrives to start setup. Five more volunteers arrive so we make our way down the walkway to place the Muscle Facts signs along the route for a scavenger hunt game.

9:30 a.m. – Firemen arrive and set up the tents, banners and flags. Tables & chairs are getting placed for the Scotiabank volunteer team to run the registration.

10:00 a.m. – Starting to jokingly think, “are we done yet?” Things are coming together though! I think we are ready, and here comes our MDC Fundraising Coordinator, Jeannine (after bit of airplane troubles she has arrived! I can stop worrying now!) I am having another coffee to celebrate her arrival lifting a great stress off of me.  Jeannine will be able to arrange the registration paperwork with the Scotiabank crew.

11:00 a.m. – Wheeling around getting volunteers to start running activities including lawn bowling and hoop toss being chased down by at least a dozen people, from volunteers to media and anyone else wanting to talk to the guy in charge. I did a TV interview with Shaw/Global BC then another with Kiss FM as well as taking pictures for the Morning Star newspaper. So this is what celebrities feel like!

12:00 p.m. – Lions and Safeway cooking hotdogs, firemen hanging balloons, Kiss Fm events crew wanting an interview, Vernon Mayor arrives to greet us and get ready for the ribbon cutting. Looking good!

12:30 p.m. – Now it’s time to assemble everyone for the opening speeches. Wow, what a turnout! It is great to see so many here. I do my speech welcoming everyone and get started on the official opening. There is a  red ribbon across the pathway which Walk participants Micaela Evans, Joey Christiansen and Jacob Brayshaw help Mayor Sawatsky cut.

1:00 p.m. – Walk for Muscular Dystrophy is happening! It is so exciting to see so many people walking and rolling, each with their own reasons for participating.

2:00 p.m. – Jeannine tells me that we have reached $13,000 in donations! WOOT! I am overwhelmed. We gather for the awards and closing ceremony. As we prepare our speeches I am thinking back to January when I thought if we could raise $5,000 we would be a success, now we are over double and it’s hard to fight the tears of joy at the totals. The smiles and the stories will stay with me for a long time.

3:00 p.m. – I am tired but today has been such a blessing, and now I am exhausted! I talk with Jeannine about future projects and what we can do to make next year’s Walk event even better.

4:00 p.m. – I am home now. Time to relax and reflect on the day and think of what was accomplished, so many challenges met and exceeded. So many people to thank their for their help and support. I think I will sleep well tonight after the excitement mellows. A great day!

Thank you all for your support and effort in making our first annual North Okanagan Safeway Walk for Muscular Dystrophy such a huge success!

Reg explains that his involvement with Muscular Dystrophy Canada as a volunteer and motivational speaker/educator has been a blessing to his own life in giving him a purpose and a chance to give back while still accepting the limitations of his disability.

As a client of MDC Reg has received assistance in the form of specially constructed leg braces and recently, when the braces no longer served his needs, a wheelchair that he would have otherwise not been able to afford. Reg explains, “the wheelchair has granted me a new outlook on my life by allowing me the freedom and independence to wheel around town on my own to shop for groceries, go out for a visit and of course for fundraising!”

Find out more about the Services that the Walk for Muscular Dystrophy helps make possible.

National Volunteer Week 2013: Thank you Walk for Muscular Dystrophy Volunteers

The Walk for Muscular Dystrophy is a fully accessible fundraising event that is fun for the whole family! Funds raised through the Walk for Muscular Dystrophy are used to assist people with neuromuscular disorders through education, information, support, advocacy and funding for research and assistive devices.  There are 58 events held between April and October across Canada, and volunteers are essential to each event!  From volunteers on the planning committee and coordinators of fundraisers to event day helpers who assist with set up, registration, take down and more! The Walk for Muscular Dystrophy relies on the dedication and generosity of volunteers! Read about some of the wonderful volunteers involved with the Walk for Muscular Dystrophy.

 

At the 2012 Peel Region Walk for Muscular Dystrophy

Lucy DaSilva:

Lucy has been an active volunteer for Muscular Dystrophy Canada for many years. As a member of the Peel Region Walk for Muscular Dystrophy volunteer planning committee, an active fundraiser and participant, Lucy works hard to support a cause that is important to her.

Lucy DaSilva has come up with a way to combine her passion for raising funds and awareness for Muscular Dystrophy Canada with one of her hobbies. During the holiday season, Lucy puts her needle and thread to work and sells handmade accessories, and donates the profits to Muscular Dystrophy Canada.

“With muscular dystrophy a part of my life, I feel that giving back is rewarding.  I have met a lot of friends along the way and maybe one day my work will help others to beat muscular dystrophy and find a cure,” said Lucy.

 

 

Annette Sultana and her nephew

Annette Sultana:

The driving force behind the Peel Region Walk for Muscular Dystrophy silent auction is Annette Sultana, a long-time Muscular Dystrophy Canada volunteer. Annette dedicates her time to the silent auction like a full time job, and it continues to be one of the reasons people look forward to the Walk every year!

Annette, who was diagnosed with SMA at the age of seven, always knew that she wanted to give back to an organization that had given to her, and has been a member of the volunteer planning committee for the past three years. “I stopped working about five years ago, and wanted to do something productive and important. So, when MDC called looking for volunteers, I agreed. Being a part of the planning committee gives me the opportunity to use my skills, discover new ones, and most importantly, to give back to an organization that has given so much to so many.”

 

 

Lisa Headrick and her family

Lisa Headrick:

2013 marks the launch of the Sarnia Walk for Muscular Dystrophy, and it’s all thanks to Lisa Headrick and her close-knit group of family and friends.

Having participated in the London Walk for the last few years, Lisa decided that there was a great opportunity for an event like this in her community. She had brought out at least 30 people to the London Walk and was sure more people would be interested in participating in their own community. “I got in contact with [Muscular Dystrophy Canada] and got all of the information, I discussed it with a few of the people that were interested in being on the committee and we decided to go for it,” Lisa says of her decision.

Lisa spends a lot of her free time working on the Walk and trying to spread the word. “I think the best way to raise awareness is to talk about it. I talk about the Walk to everyone I see and everyone I know, there are a generous amount of people that have never heard of muscular dystrophy and I make it my duty to explain what it is to people when they are unaware.

Thank you Lucy, Annette, Lisa and all the many wonderful volunteers who spend time on the Walk for Muscular Dystrophy planning committees and working as event volunteers!

National Volunteer Week 2013: Thank you Fire Fighters

Canadian Fire Fighters have played an integral role for Muscular Dystrophy Canada since 1954.  Since that time, Muscular Dystrophy Canada has been supported by more than 600 Fire Departments and Associations across Canada, who currently raise close to $3 million dollars annually – for a total of over $70 million since 1954.  Each year, Career and Volunteer Fire Fighters give time both during their on and off-duty hours to organize Boot Drives, Rooftop Campouts, car washes, pancake breakfasts, magic shows, “Buck For Luck” campaigns, pub crawls, ladder-a-thons, raffles, and sporting events in support of an estimated 50,000 Canadians with neuromuscular disorders.  Through education, support, and media relations they generate much needed awareness of muscular dystrophy like no one else can.

We thank them for being our heroes every day, and for making a difference in the lives of people with neuromuscular disorders.  Here are just a couple examples of the amazing Fire Fighters who are helping make muscles move!

 

Greg Knight with London’s honorary Fire Chief Owen McGonigal

Greg Knight:

It all began in 1990 with a boot drive from the Blenheim/Harwich Fire Department.  Twenty-three years later, London Fire Fighter Greg Knight would have to admit there are some flames that shouldn’t be put out.  His commitment to assisting those affected with neuromuscular disorders has been unwavering since that first boot drive and his inspiration is drawn from the incredible people he has met along the way.

As Chair of the National Fire Fighters Relations Committee, he considers himself lucky to be surrounded by so many dedicated Fire Fighters from across the country and knows that with the strength of this committed group, there are possibilities for great things.  In his own words, he has “committed for the long haul” to making sure all Canadians with neuromuscular disorders continue to know that Fire Fighters are fighting for a cure.

 

Mario Martin

Mario Martin:

For the past 11 years, Fire Fighter Mario Martin, Chief of Operations at the Longueuil Fire Department, has been in charge of organizing the Montreal Scott Skyscraper Challenge. Mario Martin is passionate about the Challenge and works tirelessly to organize and promote the event. Thanks to him, it has become a flagship event in the Quebec emergency services community going from 2 participants in 2002 to more than 500 in 2012! Thanks to his hard work, Quebec Fire Fighters are more dedicated than ever to finding a cure for neuromuscular disorders. As a Fire Fighter, using muscles is essential, which is why this cause is so close to Mario’s heart. He decided to use his muscles to climb the steps and give hope to thousands of people affected with neuromuscular disorders, but we think he’s using his most important muscle: his heart!

Thank you Fire Fighters for your courage, passion, determination and caring!

National Volunteer Week 2013: Thank you Volunteers!

There are an unlimited number of ways to support Muscular Dystrophy Canada as a volunteer.  Office volunteers, event volunteers, chapter members, Board of Directors members, and fundraising volunteers are all in high demand.  Muscular Dystrophy Canada is a volunteer-driven organization and relies on dedicated, enthusiastic, diverse and dynamic people to help us meet our mission. Volunteers are respected members of Muscular Dystrophy Canada’s team and play a vital role in the delivery of our fundraising campaigns, programs and services.  Here are just a few stories of Muscular Dystrophy Canada’s wonderful volunteers!  Learn how to get involved with Muscular Dystrophy Canada.

Jessica Dell’Unto

Jessica Dell’Unto:

I started with Muscular Dystrophy Canada as a client in 2011 when I was diagnosed with Limb Girdle but I have recently become involved as a volunteer. I am a peer mentor at the Toronto Chapter meeting and am planning to get involved with as many Walk for Muscular Dystrophy events this summer as possible. Volunteering has given me so many opportunities to network, learn about the resources available through MDC, and above all else, give back to an organization that has supported me in so many ways.

 

Helen Cornett:

Helen Cornett with her Diamond Jubilee Medal

Helen Cornett has been an active volunteer with Muscular Dystrophy Canada for nearly 35 years. Her commitment and dedication to the organization has been truly astounding.  Helen has been an active executive member of the Windsor Chapter since its inception.

Through the Windsor Chapter, Helen also administers the annual Buck for Luck campaign where she diligently delivers kits throughout the Windsor and Essex region. She works hard year after year to recruit new establishments and ensure Muscular Dystrophy Canada is visible throughout the community.

Over the years, Helen has volunteered with the Windsor Chapter and Muscular Dystrophy Canada in as many roles as possible. She was a previous board member for the organization and has taken on nearly every Chapter Executive role. She is a very dedicated and committed volunteer who takes pride in her commitment to enhance the lives of those affected by neuromuscular disorders.

Françoise Béland (centre in white)

Françoise Béland:

Françoise Béland is an extremely active and dedicated volunteer for Muscular Dystrophy Canada. The time and commitment that she puts forth towards her activities with the organization is truly remarkable.

Françoise helped to create the Ottawa Chapter group with her husband in 1997 and has been a devoted and enthusiastic volunteer ever since. Françoise has been an active Chapter executive member for the past 15 years, taking on various roles including her current role as treasurer. She arranges Chapter meetings and the Ottawa Chapter support group and ensures all members are included. Françoise also prepares the meals for special meetings so that members have the opportunity to get together over a great meal.

Françoise and her family

Françoise is also the driving force behind all of the Ottawa Chapter fundraising activities, along with her husband J.P. and son Luc. Françoise recruits and organizes over 40 volunteers at the annual Ottawa Walk for Muscular Dystrophy, and coordinates to ensure the largest and highest fundraising annual Walk event in Ontario is a success year after year. Françoise also dedicates countless hours to the annual Buck for Luck and Christmas ornaments campaign. Because of her efforts, the Ottawa Chapter is consistently the highest fundraising Chapter across the country for both of these campaigns.

Thank you Jessica, Helen and Françoise, and all volunteers, for your commitment to Muscular Dystrophy Canada!

Team Kenti invites you to their annual fundraiser on April 13, 2013

It’s that time of the year again!

Team Kenti, the 2012 York Region Walk for Muscular Dystrophy top fundraising team are hosting their annual event in support of their fundraising efforts.

Join Team Kenti and enjoy an afternoon of entertainment and fun, while supporting a cause that is very close to their hearts. The event includes live music by the band House of Voodoo, door prizes, draws, a challenge game and snacks.

Members of Team Kenti, including Jan Switzer (second from right) and Julia Chernin, from Muscular Dystrophy Canada (right).

Jan Switzer, a member of Team Kenti fundraises and participates each year because she believes in the benefits of the event. “The most important message from the Walk is the education it provides. When I participated in the first Walk, very few of my sponsors even knew about muscular dystrophy. The Walk provides awareness; [it is] the first step to putting more focus onto the disease; the individuals who suffer and the families who provide endless hours/years of strength & support.”

Event Details:

Date: Saturday, April 13, 2013

Time: Doors open at 1:30 pm, the event runs from 2:00 pm – 5:30 pm

Locations: The El Mocambo Tavern – 464 Spadina Avenue, Toronto (Map)

Cost: $20 includes all activities and snacks. Food and drinks are available for purchase.

We hope to see you there!

Calgary Walk for Muscular Dystrophy Ambassador: Candisse

My name is Candisse McCormick. I am flattered to be one of this year’s Alberta Walk for Muscular Dystrophy Ambassadors.  I have been involved with Muscular Dystrophy Canada for many years, at many different levels, so this is a true honor.  It also brings back many memories from my childhood when I was 5 years old and a Poster Child for Muscular Dystrophy Canada.

As anyone affected by muscular dystrophy knows, life is a battle. You are always faced with challenges, but I believe that as long as you stay optimistic you can overcome anything.  As an ambassador I am suppose to share my story, inspire people, and influence you to do your part to help make muscles move.  The thing is, for me I don’t feel as though I have “a story” it’s just my life as I know it.  So I will do my best to give you a glimpse into my life.  One thing that I always like to share when I am asked to “tell my story” is that I don’t do this to make people feel sorry for me, or to pray for a better life for me.  I have a GREAT life, and everything that I have been through has made me the person I am today.

Candisse as a “Poster Child” for Muscular Dystrophy Canada

At 18 months old, my parents were given the news and I was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1.  Of course this news is always devastating, but it doesn’t help that back then the “statistics” about those with SMA showed a very short life span.  Mine was that I wouldn’t live past the age of 9.  They say a lady should never tell her age, but I’ll make an exception for all of you. January 15^th of this year I turned 30.  Overall I have lived a pretty average life, other then the fact that at the age of 3, I received and started using my first power wheelchair. I went to regular public school, graduated High School, took some college classes, and now I have started my own business as an event planner.  Only thing different from my story as opposed to others is that I learned to adapt to situations and surroundings as life moved forward.  From adapted school workloads, to now making sure event spaces are accessible. I have never gone through life with any what if’s, or feeling like I have missed out on certain things in life because of my physical disability.

Being involved with Muscular Dystrophy Canada (MDC) and the Walk for Muscular Dystrophy gives me the ability to raise awareness and funds to help people like me live their life to the fullest.  Having any type of MD can be expensive…power wheelchairs, home adaptations, special seating, adapted vehicles; the list goes on…these things all cost thousands of dollars.  It’s organizations like MDC who help us obtain the funding or items to help make our lives easier.  Over years they have helped me personally with the purchase of a tract lift, hospital-style bed, and most exciting to me – a new wheelchair adapted van.   All of these items are ones that are getting me one step closer to being as fully independent as I can me…which is what I have always wanted.

As a 2013 Walk for Muscular Dystrophy Ambassador I promise to do my best to share my story like I have here, promote and share information about muscular dystrophy, and raise funds for the Walk for MD in hopes of carrying out the overall goal of finding a cure for muscular dystrophy.