Sean Houlihan won the Walk of the Year Award at the ALS Society of BC’s Volunteer Awards ceremony in Richmond Tuesday. Houlihan is the coordinator of the Victoria Walk to End ALS.
A record-breaking Victoria Walk to End ALS event has earned its coordinator recognition for his support of the ALS Society of BC.
Sean Houlihan received the Walk of the Year Award at the society’s volunteer awards ceremony in Richmond Tuesday, as the Walk raised $94,000 and saw 955 walkers take part in the 2018 Victoria Walk.
A release from ALS Society of BC Thursday says Houlihan’s sister passed away from ALS last August, and he regularly joined her at support meetings and was inspired by what he saw.
“I saw the reality of true people, ones who are living their last moments on earth, and I thought to myself, I need to be a part of this,” Houlihan said in a statement.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, gradually paralyzes people as the brain loses the ability to communicate with muscles in the body.
Someone living with ALS loses the capability to walk, talk, eat, swallow, and eventually breathe.
Houlihan said it was the first time he coordinated a walk, but was motivated from participating in the Mid Island WALK.
He is quick to pass on the credit for the successful walk to others.
“This award should go to the team captains. They are the ones who truly raised all the money. My reward is to see that records are being broken; my reward was the day of the walk.”
The 2019 Victoria Walk to End ALS is scheduled for September 15, and the campaign’s goal is to reach the $100,000 mark.
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