Janet Robertson receives Sidney Valo Exceptional Fundraising Program Award

April 27, 2012 - PRLog -- Janet Robertson receives Sidney Valo Exceptional Fundraising Program Award

MARKHAM, ON, April 26, 2012 – Winnipeg, Manitoba resident Janet Robertson will receive the ALS Society of Canada’s Sidney Valo Exceptional Fundraising Program Award (individual), during an awards ceremony to be held at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel, Toronto, on April 28, in recognition of her volunteer contributions to the ALS community in Canada.

Robertson is the co-owner of the Golf Dome in Winnipeg. In 2005, she became involved with the ALS Society of Manitoba by becoming a sponsor for one of the Society’s major events. Robertson has actively continued with many fundraising efforts by donating prizes for auctions.

Since 2007, Robertson has been an integral part of the Drive for Life Golf Classic– ALS Manitoba’s most successful golf tournament. The golf tournament has grown from 16 teams in 2006 to 40 teams in 2011 and has raised more than $191,000. Robertson has spent hours collecting prizes, finding sponsors, getting players, and putting incentive packages for all the golfers. Robertson is also a major sponsor.

“Janet wanted to give something back to the community and create more awareness about ALS, and along with her family, became very involved with the ALS Society of Manitoba,” said Diana Rasmussen, executive director, ALS Manitoba.

The Sidney Valo Exceptional Fundraising Program Award recognizes excellence in fundraising programs implemented during 2010. In January 2009, this award was renamed to honour the work and commitment of Sidney Valo, member of the ALS Canada Board, who died on December 24, 2008.

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. The vision of the ALS Society of Canada is to find a cure for ALS.

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For more information, please contact:


Diana Rasmussen
Executive Director & Client Services Co-ordinator
ALS Society of Manitoba
204-837-1291
drasmussen@alsmb.ca

Bobbi Greenberg
Director of Communications
ALS Society of Canada
1-800-267-4257 ext. 208
bg@als.ca