MANITOULIN—On Monday morning, Assiginack became the first municipality on Manitoulin to get soaked as part of the Ice Bucket Challenge, raising funds and awareness for ALS (Lou Gherig’s disease) and passing that challenge on to other Island politicians.
“I’m wet,” said Reeve Brad Ham on the phone from the Assiginack municipal office just before noon on Monday. The reeve as well as Councillors Les Fields and Paul Moffat and CAO/Clerk Alton Hobbs all took part in a simultaneous soaking. In their online message, which can be seen on both The Expositor’s and the Township of Assiginack’s Facebook page, Reeve Ham challenges Wikwemikong Chief Duke Peltier, Councillor Moffat challenged Northeast Town Mayor Al MacNevin and Councillor Marcel Gauthier, Councillor Fields challenged the whole of Central Manitoulin council and Mr. Hobbs challenged his counterparts at all the Island municipalities. All of the Assiginack group has pledged to donate to ALS Canada.
“I was nominated on Saturday evening by my in-laws,” Reeve Ham said. “It’s bringing great awareness to ALS—we think it’s just a fantastic cause.”
The Expositor informed Chief Peltier of his challenge by Reeve Ham, which he said he would bring to his council meeting Monday night, but he said he would likely be getting wet on Tuesday morning.
Mayor MacNevin said he just found out about his challenge on Monday afternoon and decided to take up the cause in front of the municipality’s new offices on that evening, with a little help from The Expositor’s Northeast Town council beat reporter Robin Burridge who poured the icy water. In his challenge, Mayor MacNevin named Expositor Publisher Rick McCutcheon, Manitoulin Health Centre CEO Derek Graham and Jim Bousquet of Bousquet Cambrian Insurance to take up the cause. Immediately following, as he was a member of the Water Street audience, Mr. McCutcheon took the challenge, nominating Debby Turner, Audrey Wemigwans and Owen Legge.
The previous day, Sunday, following a nomination by Craig Hughson, Expositor editor Alicia McCutcheon took the challenge, with pouring help from Roy Eaton, challenging Bruce O’Hare at the Anchor Inn, Mike Wilding at Boarderline and Rita Gordon at Gordon’s Park.
To date Kenjgewin Teg Educational Institute staff have taken part, as have individual families and by publication day Wednesday no doubt the challenge will have spread far and wide across Manitoulin, showcasing the generous spirit of Islanders.
The Ice Bucket Challenge, which began in July in the United States, has been a major coup for ALS funding. As of Monday, August 25, the Ice Bucket Challenge had garnered $79.7 million in donations compared to $2.5 million during the same time period last year. In Canada, donations raised from the challenge are at $6.3 million with a goal of $7.5 million.
A story on the ALS Canada website features Alec Muir, formerly of Little Current, and his tale of a life lived with a loved one with ALS, in his case his mother Diane Muir. Ms. Muir was diagnosed when Alec was just five-years-old.
“A-L-S, three letters that since 1991, have changed my life forever,” he writes. “I don’t really remember the day she was diagnosed, as I was only five years-old, but I do remember the days, weeks and months following her diagnosis were very hard for me, as I found it very hard to cope with what had happened. When the doctor diagnosed her, he said she would have two to five years to live. When my parents told me this, I just couldn’t believe what I was hearing, having my mother not see me graduate elementary school.”
“Once she was diagnosed, we would renovate our house in Little Current,” he continued. “We created an island stove top with storage underneath, so if she had to eventually use a wheelchair she would be able to maneuver around in the kitchen. Also, we moved the futon to make a bed for my mom downstairs, and a handicapped accessible washroom and shower.”
“While we were on Manitoulin, my mom would go to see her physiotherapist three times per week, where she would have special heat packs applied to her back and would do a set of exercises,” Mr. Muir writes. “Our families, friends and church congregation were very supportive through all the struggles. To help my mom get around, she was given two canes to walk with and a walker was donated to her by the Legion. They also provided her with a three-wheel scooter.”
The Muir family (Ross Muir is the former editor of The Expositor) eventually moved to Kitchener. Ms. Muir has a form of ALS that progresses slowly and, over 20 years after her diagnosis, is living comfortably at home and is doing well, her son writes.
To make a direct donation, visit www.als.ca or send a cheque by mail to ALS Canada c/o Ice Bucket Challenge, 3000 Steeles Avenue East, Suite 200, Markham, Ontario, L3R 4T9.
