We are so pleased that all three of our Tapestry Retirement Communities participated in the #ALSIceBucketChallenge raising over $3000 between the communities in Vancouver and Toronto. If you haven’t heard about the challenge, you might be living under a rock. What’s this all about? Read on to learn about ALS, the challenge, and Tapestry Retirement Communities contributions and connections.

What is ALS?
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease. People living with the disease become progressively paralyzed due to degeneration of the upper and lower motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. Eighty per cent of people with ALS die within two to five years of diagnosis– unable to breathe or swallow. Ten per cent of those affected may live for 10 years or longer.

Other neurodegenerative diseases include Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. According to the World Health Organization, neurodegenerative diseases are predicted to surpass cancer as the second leading cause of death in Canada by 2040.

ALS has no known cure or effective treatment yet. For every person diagnosed with ALS, a person living with ALS dies. Approximately 2,500 – 3,000 Canadians currently live with this fatal disease.
Source: www.als.ca

What is the #ALSIceBucketChallenge?
Chris Kennedy, a golfer in Sarasota, Fla., was nominated by a friend to participate in the Ice Bucket Challenge, which at the time, had nothing to do with ALS. The campaign was not tied to any specific charity, and participants would select a charity of their choice for donations. Kennedy’s friend had selected a charity that benefits a young child with cancer in the area. Kennedy, passing the challenge along, then selected ALS because a relative is suffering from the disease. Kennedy nominated his wife’s cousin Jeanette Senerchia, whose husband Anthony is the one suffering from ALS. Kennedy posted a video on July 15—what appears to be the first instance in which the Ice Bucket Challenge and ALS were linked.
Source: www.time.com

The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge quickly took off and spread through social media networks. In Canada alone, over $10 million has been raised along with awareness of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

Tapestry’s Ice Bucket Challenge
The recreation department at Tapestry at Wesbrook Village decided to take part in the challenge involving both staff and residents after CEO, Dan Madsen of One Eighty Twist, challenged colleagues to participate (One Eighty Twist provides seniors housing management for Tapestry Retirement Communities). Over $400 was raised! This started a chain reaction in Vancouver with a challenge from Tapestry at Wesbrook Village to Tapestry at Arbutus Walk.

At the same time, the team in Toronto at Tapestry at Village Gate West pulled together a team to participate and over $2000 in donations! Nancy, Activities Coordinator in Toronto, was particularly touched by the support at the community having lost two siblings to ALS.

Lastly, the team at Concert Properties was challenged by Tapestry at Arbutus Walk to participate and happy obliged raising over $700 and soaking a number of people from numerous departments.

Thank you everyone for your participation, awareness raising, and monies raised for this cause.

Check out the chain…
1. Dan Madsen, CEO of One Eighty Twist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XnIEB-TWnU&feature=youtu.be
2. Tapestry at Wesbrook Village
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21ynZ6LNX0U
3. Tapestry at Village Gate West
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zc0KUkN0IPc
4. Tapestry at Arbutus Walk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reOIgtEtzcQ
5. Concert Properties
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=fNtWKCxGHlw