2023 Exceptional Fundraising Program Award (3rd Party Event) – Group Award

Pat Shannon (L – Gord’s Brother), Maureen Shannon (M – Gord’s Sister) & Gord Shannon (On-Screen)

The ALS Society of British Columbia’s 43rd Annual Volunteer Celebration & Awards Presentation

Contact: Wendy Toyer
Executive Director, ALS Society of BC
Cell: 778-999-6257
[email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, April 10th, 2024

West Kootenay’s “Gord’s Team” Takes Top Fundraising Honours in Fight Against ALS

Recipient of the 2023 ALS Society of BC Exceptional Fundraising Program Award
(3rd Party Event) – Group Award – Gord Shannon Leads GORD’S TEAM in the Move to Cure ALS – West Kootenay, BC.

RICHMOND, British Columbia – The purpose of this award is to evaluate and recognize excellence in fundraising programs implemented during the previous 12 months. This award recognizes an individual or project team who has demonstrated excellence in fundraising. An exceptional program develops an innovative idea and attains or exceeds a fundraising goal. This can be a new or continuing program.

Gord Shannon is living with ALS. Since 2004, he has entered a team in the West Kootenay Walk/Move location and was the coordinator of the event for 17 years. In 2023, his team raised over $22,046, making this the higher amount raised by a group in 2023 that has not already won this category.

“I am very grateful to be receiving this award! The money raised goes to a very good and worthwhile cause and I am very happy to do my little part. Our common goal with the Walks and now the Moves has been very successful, and I hope will continue to do so!

I appreciate the recognition but the real reason we can continue with this are the people who year after year donate and all the hard-working volunteers. Thank you to all!” said Gord Shannon.

“Gord Shannon was diagnosed with ALS in 1997. I met Gord when I joined the ALS Society in 2005. His amazing sense of humour and dedication to help others living with ALS and PLS is inspirational to all who know him. Gord has a large group of friends who join him and his family on Gord’s Team in the previously named West Kootenay Walk to End ALS now called the Move to Cure ALS – West Kootenay. Last year, Gord was not able to attend the Move to Cure ALS due to medical issues. His team was at the Move held in in Trail. $22,046 was raised by the team. Over the past 20 years, Gord’s Team has raised well over a $200,000. Many thanks to the members of Gord’s Team and to Selkirk paving for your outstanding support.” said Wendy Toyer, Executive Director of the ALS Society of BC. 

Gord Shannon’s award was presented at a “Celebration of Volunteerism and Service” ceremony hosted by the ALS Society of BC on Tuesday, April 9th, 2024, in Richmond, BC.

Download logos and a high-resolution photo of the award recipient here.

About ALS BC: The Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Society of British Columbia (ALS BC) was founded in 1981 by Dr. Andrew Eisen, ALS patients and family members to meet the physical and emotional needs of people living with ALS and their caregivers. Our mission is to cure ALS through funding research, while advocating for and supporting people living with ALS. 

About ALS: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also referred to as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder that affects the person’s motor neurons that carry messages to the muscles resulting in weakness and wasting in arms, legs, mouth, throat and elsewhere. Typically, the person is immobilized within two to five years of the initial diagnosis. There is no known cause or cure yet, but there is hope through the ALS Society of BC.

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