Weir Receives William Fraser Leadership Development Award

May 6, 2009 - PRLog -- TORONTO, CANADA.  Lori Weir of Saint John, NB, received the ALS Society of Canada William Fraser Leadership Development Award at an awards ceremony in Toronto on May 2, 2009, in recognition of her volunteer contributions to the ALS community of Canada.

Over the past six years, Weir held numerous positions with the ALS Society of New Brunswick, before becoming involved with ALS Canada, where she is a member of the executive committee and co-chairs the national advocacy committee. Weir was an early promoter of the New Brunswick “Support for Champions” program for children affected by ALS in the family. This program later served as a template for similar programs in other provinces. Furthermore, this important focus on the needs of children also inspired the creation of ALS Canada’s als411 resource program for children.

Like many other volunteers, Lori Weir first became involved with the ALS Society of New Brunswick when her mother was diagnosed with ALS. After experiencing first-hand the difficulties of navigating the health-care system and coping with this devastating disease, Weir was determined to play a leadership role and make a difference, both in her native province, where she focused on recruiting volunteers and improving services for people living with ALS, and in her country.

“Lori’s leadership is inspirational as she models a standard of excellence in all she does,” says Cathy Martin, member of the executive committee of the board of directors of the ALS Society of Canada. “Through her thoughtful assessment of a situation or her generous offers of effective ways to address an issue, Lori shares her expertise in an incredibly kind and collaborative way.”

The William Fraser Leadership Development Award recognizes outstanding leadership development initiated and implemented by an individual, chapter or unit. The award honours William Fraser, a past president of the ALS Society of Canada, who died in 2000.

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About ALS:
ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a rapidly progressive and fatal neuromuscular disorder that causes the degeneration of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. ALS can affect men and women of any ethnic origin at any age. Approximately 2,500 to 3,000 Canadians are living with the disease. And 80 per cent of those affected will die within two to five years of diagnosis.

About the ALS Society of Canada:
The ALS Society of Canada, founded in 1977, is the only national voluntary health organization dedicated solely to the fight against ALS and support for those living with ALS. ALS Canada funds research towards a cure for ALS, supports the provincial ALS societies in the provision of quality care for those living with ALS, and provides information to build public awareness about the disease. The vision of the ALS Society of Canada is to find a cure for ALS.