My Thanks

Editorial

“The Walk to Fight Familial Ataxias has been a great success. We have been able to raise over $95000, over the last 5 years, with all 4 provinces working together. I wish to thank you for continuing to support us by coming to our walk in Whitby. A breakthrough in the research is just around the corner, so stay positive and keep motivated.”

I would like to thank the man who wrote this simple, yet amazingly powerful message to his Facebook friends a few days after the walks.

Do you remember who organized the first Walk to Fight Friedreichʼs Ataxia in 2008? Who were those people who inspired us so? They were the Mills brothers, Jason and Joshua.

Not only did they inspire us, they also created an activity that brings us all together and grows every year. Today the event is called: The Walk to Fight Familial Ataxias.

I believe the tens of thousands of dollars that we have amassed are in large part thanks to them. Therefore, on the community’s behalf, I thank the Mills brothers for their invaluable contribution to a cause we hold so dear. Their names will forever be etched in the history of the Canadian Association for Familial Ataxias – Claude St-Jean Foundation.

I do not see why each one of us could not become a source of inspiration. All it takes is a desire to do something for the cause and ideas will arise, both big and small. You even have a chance to discover a few of them in this journal. Enjoy!

Jean Phénix