There were more than 100 participants at the ALS Walk held in Lheidli T'enneh Memorial Park Sunday to raise awareness and funds for those affected by the disease.
ALS, perhaps best known as Lou Gehrig's disease, gradually paralyzes the patient as the brain no longer communicates with muscles in the body.
Among the sea of purple T-shirt-clad walkers was the family of Phil Gilliard.
Taylor, 9, went skipping towards her mom holding a photo frame in her hands.
As she approached her mom, Nicole Ellington, Taylor took a knee and put her face in the frame ready for the click of the camera shutter. Nicole obliged while Taylor grinned, knowing she was supporting her Grandpa Phil. The frame said 'believe, hope, dream, picture a cure', and Taylor does.
"She's been here every year since she was a baby," Lisa Gilliard, Taylor's grandmother and wife to Phil said with a smile.
Phil, who now uses a motorized wheelchair to get around, was diagnosed in 2010 with a variation of ALS called PLS, which stands for primary lateral sclerosis, that progressively weakens voluntary muscles and is part of the disorders known as motor neuron diseases, which includes ALS.
Lisa said the ALS Society of British Columbia is very supportive and provides much-needed equipment that makes living with the progression of Phil's PLS bearable for him, like the talking tablet Phil uses to spell out words and the computer says the sentences out loud.
"Anything we've ever needed, they have been there," Lisa said. "They've been amazing."
Wendy Toyer, the executive director of ALS Society of BC, makes the trip from Vancouver to the Prince George walk each year and said the organization will have equipment delivered to the ALS patient within two days, guaranteed.
"And if it doesn't come in two days, I want to hear about it," she said during her opening remarks.
Along with hearing a few words from co-organizer Diane Jensen, Mayor Lyn Hall said a few words of encouragement and welcome, and MLA Shirley Bond was there to say a few words, having recently been recognized by the ALS Society of B.C. for her advocacy work.
"I am so honoured to be associated with this organization," Bond said. "Good things are happening and there's more work to be done. By walking today, supporting one another - that's probably the most important thing - showing our care and concern for those families who have a loved one with ALS. It's very challenging for caregivers as well and we want to think about them today, too."
There are 13 people in the Northern Health Authority and 400 in B.C. who have ALS. There are more than 90 walks in Canada and the walk in Prince George was one of 14 in the province.
The funds raised on behalf of ALS Society of B.C. is split with 60 per cent going towards equipment needed by those with the disease and 40 per cent going to the ALS Society of Canada's research program to help find a cure.
So far there has been more than $3,800 raised during the Prince George Walk. Those wishing to donate to the cause can visit alsbc.ca and click on the Prince George Walk.
