 |
travel / adventure zone
| The Adventure Zone |
|
|
 |
|
| Photo courtesy the ALS Society of Canada |
|
Nature lovers don't need much encouragement to hit the trails
once the summer heat has relaxed its sweltering grip. Spectacular
fall colour, brilliant blue skies and crisp October days are
an irresistible lure — and that's just what the ALS Society
of Canada is counting on with its brand-new fundraising program
called Hike 4 ALS."
"We're asking Canadians to take to the trails in support
of ALS research and client services for those living with
ALS," says event director Joe Mangoff. "And hiking in the
fall will make for some spectacular views and scenery."
ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), better known as Lou
Gehrig's disease, is a progressive neuromuscular disorder
that affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord
and ultimately causes loss of muscle control, making breathing
and eating — even smiling — impossible. Some 1,500
to 2,000 Canadians currently live with this crippling disease,
and every day, two or three Canadians die of ALS.
Targeting outdoor enthusiasts of all fitness levels, Hike
4 ALS has scheduled events in four provinces in its inaugural
year. Participants will hike some of the prettiest trails
in the country, all for a great cause. The 10-kilometre Vancouver,
B.C., hike follows the Baden Park Trail under a gorgeous canopy
of trees and alongside waterfalls and brooks. Albertans have
their choice of two sites: the picturesque Shirley Lake Trail
east of Edmonton (12.6 kilometres) and the figure-eight Jumpingpound
Loop in Kananaskis Country (9 kilometres), with a 60-degree
view of the foothills, prairies and peaks. Ontario plays host
at the York Region's Kortright Centre for Conservation, with
16 kilometres of trails that run from forest to meadow and
marsh, while Haligonians are treated to the 8.5-kilometre
Crystal Crescent Beach Provincial Park Trail, with the Atlantic
Ocean as their constant companion.
For those who are unable to make the October 15 date, there
are also opportunities to sponsor a "virtual" hiker. Log on
at www.als.ca/hike4als/ to
find out how.
|
|
| ADVERTISEMENT |
|
|
|
|
