A Walk of Kindness Hopes to Raise Funds of ALS Research

Wednesday, 5 August 2015 06:17

One woman is walking the entirety of the Bruce Trail to raise money and awareness for a debilitating disease.

WOODSTOCK - What started out as a promise between sisters has become a movement to raise awareness for a debilitating disease.

Marie Maissan and sister Lena Buitendyk made a pledge to walk a section of the Bruce Trail every time Maissan came to visit from her home in the Netherlands. Maissan says that dream was unfortunately cut short. "3 years ago my sister Lena and I agreed to do a section of the Bruce Trail every year I would come, that would be just a part of my vacation here. Unfortunately in that same year she was diagnosed with ALS, and was not able to walk with me at all. That's when the idea came to walk on her behalf."

Maissan has taken it upon herself to walk the Bruce Trail, which stretches 885 kilometres from Tobermory to Niagara, to raise awareness for ALS in a project called A Walk of Kindness. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a disease that attacks nerve cells resulting in the loss of function in your limbs. ALS gained a lot of media attention last year with the Ice Bucket Challenge, but a cure has still not been found so funding is desperately needed. Maissan is hoping to raise $10 000 during her journey for both ALS in Canada and the Netherlands as well as the Brain Injury Association in both countries.

Lena Buitendyk is well known around Woodstock, having once been a teacher at Northdale Public School. "Most people know her as Mrs. B," says Maissan. "She has been a teacher for many, many years, a well loved teacher. She has lived in Woodstock for most of her life. The kindness she often showed - like if necessary she would take lunches for the kids who didn't have them. Of course we are sad that she can't come along, but she is very happy and very encouraging along the way." Maissan also has the support of other siblings who join her along the trail to help her reach her goal.

Maissan has been making great time on the trail. "Well I just finished the Blue Mountain Region and that makes the total up to 518 kilometres, and I still have to go to Niagara. It is almost 900 kilometres total so I am just past the half."

You can donate and follow along on Maissan's journey through the Bruce Trail at http://a-walk-of-kindness.homestead.com