TORONTO, CANADA. Ray Turner of North York, ON, received the ALS Society of Canada Myra Rosenfeld Volunteer Award at an awards ceremony in Toronto on May 2, 2009, in recognition of his volunteer contribution to the ALS community of Canada.
Using his own experience with ALS, Turner helps people living with the disease to accept and cope. Upon coming to terms with his diagnosis, he wanted to assist them through this difficult process. “I found that my ability to talk to people with the same disease I’ve got was quite easy. It was not difficult to get people to open up,” says Turner.
Turner visited people living with ALS at their homes, bringing them to support group meetings and medical appointments. Now unable to drive, he continues to provide countless hours of support to patients over the phone. Turner also founded a support group exclusively for men.
“We appreciate the initiatives that Ray has taken on to assist people living with ALS. Ray is always eager to take on tasks and effectively follows them through to completion,”
In addition to supporting people living with ALS, Turner is involved in numerous fundraising activities and prospect research. He encouraged numerous ALS patients to participate in the WALK for ALS and formed his own Walk team. His assisted in creating an educational video titled “Living with ALS” that promotes awareness of the disease. Speaking at events and support groups to provide information, Turner has touched the lives of those fighting ALS.
The Myra Rosenfeld Volunteer Award recognizes outstanding contribution to the advancement of the mission and goals of the ALS Society of Canada by a volunteer at the national, unit or chapter level. The award honours Myra Rosenfeld, a dedicated volunteer who died of ALS in 1990.
