Dragon Boat Team is on the Open Water!
This highly spirited group of women have entered in the International Dragon Boat races to be held in Toronto on June 23. Sponsored by Summit Restoration, to the benefit of the ALS Society of Canada, the All Ladies Squad has been in training for over a month. This impressive crew are residents of the Mississauga/Oakville area.Present to cheer them on is Steven Wells, 41, who has lived with ALS for over 20 years (the usual life expectancy is 3 - 5 years after onset). Steve's muscles no longer move but he is alert and active. He is presently engaged in MBA studies through the Edinburgh Business School (Hariot-Watt University), trading commodities, playing the stock market and managing the many details of his care. He lives on his own in assisted housing in Mississauga. Steve has been inspiring the SUMMIT RESTORATION ALL LADIES SQUAD to make every stroke count so as to increase funding for research into this devastating disease.
What is ALS?
ALS, sometimes called Lou Gehrig's Disease, is a rapidly progressive fatal neuromuscular disease. It is characterized by degeneration of a select group of nerve cells and pathways in the brain and spinal cord, which leads to progressive paralysis of the muscles. Generally there is little impairment of the brain, and all the senses remain alert.
* Today ALS kills two to three Canadians a day.
* Between 1,500 and 2,000 Canadians currently live with ALS.
* ALS can strike anyone.
* There is no treatment that prolongs life significantly.
* There is no cure - Yet
Summit Restoration has been restoring buildings for 27 years. Of note has been their work on Union Station, the CN Tower and Winged Victory (Princess Gates). Laurie Wells is a partner at Summit Restoration.
Practice sessions for the SUMMIT RESTORATION ALL LADIES SQUAD Dragon Boat team are being held at the Sunnyside Pavillion on Lakeshore Blvd in Toronto. The site is approximately 1 mile east of the Humber River on Lake Ontario. Practice times are between 7 pm - 8 pm each Friday. Interviews and photo opportunities are available at the end of each training session.
