A husband-wife duo will be 'Tri'ing' to put an end to ALS.
Mike Pearson and Donna Bartel are embarking on a cross-Canada Triathlon fundraiser for ALS.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a degenerative nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, and leads to a loss of muscle control.
The duo will compete in triathlons in each of Canada's 10 provinces and three territories, starting in Nanaimo in May and finishing up at Cultus Lake, B.C., in September.
"Over 24,000 km's will be driven in four months as we race weekends, driving a lot in between," said Bartel. "We will compete in 17 events, four in B.C., two in Ontario and one in other provinces and territories."
Proceeds from the journey will be split evenly between the ALS Society in the province where it was raised and ALS B.C.'s Project Hope, an endowed trust to fund a professorship at UBC to conduct ALS research and clinical trials.
The origin of the Tri'ing to End ALS fundraiser stems from 1999, when Donna's mom, Marilyn, was diagnosed with ALS. Donna and her sister Tammy ran the Vancouver Marathon as a fundraiser the following year. While training, they came up with a plan to start a five kilometre run for ALS.
"The Run, Walk and Roll for ALS was held from 2001 until 2008, and Marilyn successfully completed the first event," said Bartel. "Unfortunately, she passed away eight months later."
Bartel continued to fundraise by competing in the 2010 and 2012 Canadian Ironman Triathlons, and this year, with the help of her husband, the two wanted to continue to give hope to those living with ALS.
Starting in Nanaimo on May 12, the duo will traverse to North Vancouver, Oliver, Saskatoon, Marsh Lake, Yukon, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories and 10 more towns across the country before finishing up at Cultus Lake on Sept. 15, 2025.
For more information, visit triingtoendals.ca. The couple is seeking sponsors for their journey, and they will also be featured at the Vernon Winter Carnival parade.
