Wally Buono receives Mary Pollock WALK for ALS Volunteer Award

Surrey, BC resident Wally Buono will receive the ALS Society of Canada’s Mary Pollock WALK for ALS Volunteer Award
By: ALS Society of Canada
 
April 29, 2012 - PRLog -- MARKHAM, ON, April 26, 2012 – Surrey, BC resident Wally Buono will receive the ALS Society of Canada’s Mary Pollock WALK for ALS Volunteer Award during an awards ceremony to be held at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel, Toronto, on April 28.

Buono is the former head coach of the BC Lions and is now the general manager and vice-president, football operations, of the BC Lions Football Club, who were the 2011 Grey Cup winners.

"Wally lost his long-time friend and teammate Tony Proudfoot to ALS in December 2010. During Tony's journey with ALS, Wally provided great support to his friend and family. I met him at an ALS fundraiser held in Vancouver in Tony's honour. When Tony passed away, Wally offered his support to the ALS cause. He became the official spokesperson for the WALKs for ALS in B.C. and Yukon," said Wendy Toyer, executive director, ALS BC & Yukon.

"It is undoubtedly due to Wally's increasing awareness for ALS that Walk revenues grew by a whopping 70 per cent in BC and Yukon in 2011 – over $200,000.”  Wally is a very humble person. In his words, he says: I am not high profile; I have a high profile job. If I can help it is my responsibility to do so.

The Mary Pollock WALK for ALS Volunteer Award is given to an outstanding WALK for ALS volunteer(s). The award recognizes and celebrates outstanding contributions and achievement in developing the Walk to its fullest potential. This award honours Mary Pollock, who died of ALS in 2000.

ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a rapidly progressive and fatal neuromuscular disease that causes the degeneration of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. As the nerve cells die, people with ALS lose control of their muscles, which makes breathing, eating and even smiling almost impossible. Eighty per cent of those diagnosed will die within two to five years.

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. The Society funds research towards a cure for ALS, supports provincial partners in the provision of quality care for those living with ALS, and provides information to build awareness about the disease.
                                                                             
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For more information, please contact:


Wendy Toyer
Executive Director
ALS Society of British Columbia & Yukon
604-685-0737
wendy@alsbc.ca

Bobbi Greenberg
Director of Communications
ALS Society of Canada
1-800-267-4257 ext. 208
bg@als.ca
End
Source:ALS Society of Canada
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Tags:Research, Awards, Volunteer
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Location:Canada
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