April 21 2026 Update

It’s been a while since we posted on our blog and we hope folks are still interested in what Tri’ing to End ALS has been up to. The past months have found us busy getting back into work, with me travelling every few weeks between home (Vernon) and my work in the lower mainland; Mike recently starting work at   a nearby golf course; both of us getting back into regularly working out; and enjoying time with family and friends. Raising awareness and funds for ALS continues to be a constant. Our truck is, and will continue to be, still decaled with Tri’ing logos. And we frequently wear our Tri’ing clothes. We still periodically have people ask about what Tri’ing is all about. And of course we gladly share our story.

In February, we held a movie fundraiser at our local Towne Theatre. This theatre was built in 1938 and they support the community, including holding “Thankful Thursday” movie nights where fundraisers can show a movie to raise funds for their cause. We showed Robin Williams’ movie “RV” and had a silent auction. Thanks to our auction donors, the generosity of the Towne Theatre and Watkins Ford Motors, and of course those joining us, about $1300 was raised to support patient services and Project Hope.

After my participation with the Collaboration to Cure ALS’s meeting with elected federal officials in September/October, I’ve been more involved with the advocacy side of ALS awareness. I joined Shawn Penno, a fellow Okanagan who is also an ALS Warrior, in reaching out to our local member of parliament to advocate for his support for the Collaboration’s $50M ask of the federal government. MP Anderson was very receptive and supportive of our request. He is a member of the federal Defense Committee and committed to take our request to the Committee. The link between veterans and ALS supports including the Defense Department in our ask for funding.

At the ALS Society’s AGM and Volunteer Awards night on April 10^th, Tri’ing to End ALS - aka Mike and I - were very honoured to be awarded the Exceptional Public Awareness (Group Category) Award. It was amazing to be in a room surrounded by people dedicated to finding a cure for ALS, to share a small part of our journey with them. By all working together, sharing stories, never stopping – one day a cure will be found.

While at the AGM, we were able to finally present the ALS Society and Project Hope with cheques for the amount Tri’ing to End ALS raised in 2025. Although we didn’t raise as much as we hoped, we are amazed by the number of people impacted by ALS, and the stories they shared with us. We will forever hold their love, and pain, in our hearts.

April 19 found eight of us running the Sun Run as Team Tri’ing to End ALS! We proudly wore our Sun Run team shirts – which just happened to be purple (which is the colour for ALS for those who don’t know)! It looked awesome to see a river of purple shirts weaving its way through the city. The day was beautiful and it was wonderful to run in support of current and past ALS Warriors. Hopefully next year our/ALSBC’s team will be bigger, and the ALS Society can be a new options for registrants to donate to.

The next activity on our Tri’ing agenda is the Oliver Triathlon, June 5/6. Mike and I are doing the sprint triathlon (again! This was our 4^th race last year), and some of our training buddies and Tri’ing teammates are doing longer races. It’ll be so inspiring to see the gang in Tri’ing gear again! Thanks to support from the race director, Tri’ing is one of the options racers can donate to when registering. So far, athletes have donated over $1600!

It was at this race two years ago that I was wearing our ‘Tri’ing’ shirt when I was approached by a fellow asking ‘who I was tri’ing for’. His dad had just been diagnosed and they didn’t know anything about ALS. We hugged, cried and exchanged stories. Cody ended up joining Tri’ing as a teammate, raising awareness and funds by doing other triathlons and running races. Unfortunately Cody’s dad passed away December 16, 2025.

We’re also doing the Peach Classic triathlon in July and will, once again, be donning our gear. This time, we’ll be cheering our daughter on in her first aquathon (swim / bike)!

We’re not sure what is in store for us the rest of the year, other than we’re going to Spain in September as I qualified for the World Age Group Sprint Triathlon Championship. Unfortunately I have to wear Team Canada clothing when racing, but other times, Tri’ing gear will be worn, by Mike and me. Gotta keep up the awareness! 😊