ALS Warriors host high tea in Muldersdrift
A High Tea event was recently held to raise funds to support families dealing with this awful disease.
ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), Lou Gehrig’s Disease, or Motor Neuron Disease (MND) as it’s most commonly known, is a life-altering disorder which severely restricts one’s control of one’s muscle movements.
According to the ALS Association, an average of 15 people are diagnosed with the disease every day. Other estimates have it that one patient is diagnosed every 90 minutes, and one patient passes away every 90 minutes, world-wide.
Notable public figures of the past few years who have struggled with the disease were South African rugby player Joost van der Westhuizen and American physicist Stephen Hawking, among others, and both have sadly passed away. But, their legacies and their efforts in the fight against ALS live on.
On Sunday, 10 March, the MND-ALS Awareness and Support for Joost Warriors group hosted a highly successful High Tea event at Riverstone Lodge.
During the day, there were numerous performances by the band Reaching Infinity and the Dance Academy’s group Dance for Joy. Dr Cathy Davies from the Fox TV programme Out Patients acted as master of ceremonies.
Unfortunately, medical aids do not cover the largest portion of the medical costs associated with ALS.
About 80 people attended the High Tea, which the organisers admitted was far more than they had expected. Bernice estimates that about R20 000 was collected, but the final amount has as of the writing of this article not been tallied.
The money went directly to the Sisters Assisting the Less Fortunate Foundation.
Anyone who would like to know more about ALS-MND or would like to make a donation can contact Bernice on 011 954 2327 or email b.d.nel@hotmail.com.
