Dale Takes the Lead on ALS
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In October 2018, Dale was given the devastating diagnosis of familial Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). A very rare condition, the incidence of ALS in Canada is 2/100,000 and of those cases, 5-10% are the familial type of ALS. There are only about 150-300 people in Canada with familial ALS.
Unfortunately, Dale, his wife, Pam, and their family, are already too familiar with ALS and what their future holds, having lost Dale’s father, Ronald, at the age of 67 in 1994 to ALS and his brother, Robert, at the age of 55 in 2014. At the age of 48, Dale is the youngest of the members in his family to face this diagnosis.
With ALS, everyone’s situation progresses in an unpredictable fashion, but leads to the same outcome. This is a fatal condition and there is no hope for a cure in Dale’s lifetime. Dale’s remaining time will include a gradual, but certain, decline in mobility and independence.
Dale and Pam have been together 22 yrs, and one of the highlights has been their wedding (only 3 years ago), when they won a contest to get married at the Bradenton Blues Festival in Dec. 2015 in Florida.
While Boni and Ryan were pre-teens when Dale and Pam got together, they grew up as part of a family and now both have families of their own including 5 grandchildren. Boni, who lives in Fort St. John, has 2 daughters Rori, (15 yrs) and Rhiannon (2 yrs) and 1 son, Ryan (2 yrs). Ryan and Crystal have 2 daughters Leah (5 yrs) and Macy (1 yr) who live in Upper Stewiacke, NS.
All of Dale and Pam’s extended family live in Nova Scotia, in and around the Upper Musquodoboit and Upper Stewiacke areas where they grew up. Many of us know that the lure of employment in the west comes with the sacrifice of leaving family and friends behind, and it can be cost prohibitive to visit often. For Dale, flying to Nova Scotia presents physical challenges now, and for the extended family there are the financial challenges of making the trek to northern BC.
Dale has been unable to work since his diagnosis, and having lived a life of modest means and hard work, often seasonal in nature, financial resources are extremely limited. Dale and Pam are already trying to prepare for the financial and emotional challenges they will need to face together.
While Pam has been working full time, we know that there will come a time when that may be difficult to manage, when Dale will need to acquire expensive medical equipment or mobility aids and will need care assistance to handle day to day living. They may need minor renovations or different accommodations to make residing at home an option for as long as possible and they will need help with managing the daily tasks around the house in the very near future.
Dale and Pam have lived and worked in the Fort St. John, BC, area for many years. Many of you know Dale as a musician as he has been actively engaged in the live music scene around town, playing in various ensembles, both formally and informally, (some of you may know him as “Sea-legs” or “Silverback” or “Big Sexy”). Dale could often be found skillfully serenading a crowd with his electric guitar or playing for just a few friends or family around a fire or a kitchen table with his trusty acoustic. Dale has always found great joy in entertaining others and never fails to bring a smile to people’s faces. Whether he is “Rockin’ the Blues” or singing a little John Prine ditty, this is where Dale shines!
Dale’s friends have organized a musical event benefit to be held at the Taylor Curling Club on May 11th, 2019. The event promises to be one of celebration with good friends and good times! A time to bring Dale’s fellow musicians, friends and family together to do what he loves. In honour of Dale, we hope you will join us to share some laughter, make some fabulous memories and create great music together.
Please consider any contribution you can to help make Dale and Pam’s time together as enjoyable as possible, for as long as possible, and to support them in facing the inevitable challenges ahead with a sense of comfort and security.
For those that prefer etransfer please use [email redacted]
Unfortunately, Dale, his wife, Pam, and their family, are already too familiar with ALS and what their future holds, having lost Dale’s father, Ronald, at the age of 67 in 1994 to ALS and his brother, Robert, at the age of 55 in 2014. At the age of 48, Dale is the youngest of the members in his family to face this diagnosis.
With ALS, everyone’s situation progresses in an unpredictable fashion, but leads to the same outcome. This is a fatal condition and there is no hope for a cure in Dale’s lifetime. Dale’s remaining time will include a gradual, but certain, decline in mobility and independence.
Dale and Pam have been together 22 yrs, and one of the highlights has been their wedding (only 3 years ago), when they won a contest to get married at the Bradenton Blues Festival in Dec. 2015 in Florida.
While Boni and Ryan were pre-teens when Dale and Pam got together, they grew up as part of a family and now both have families of their own including 5 grandchildren. Boni, who lives in Fort St. John, has 2 daughters Rori, (15 yrs) and Rhiannon (2 yrs) and 1 son, Ryan (2 yrs). Ryan and Crystal have 2 daughters Leah (5 yrs) and Macy (1 yr) who live in Upper Stewiacke, NS.
All of Dale and Pam’s extended family live in Nova Scotia, in and around the Upper Musquodoboit and Upper Stewiacke areas where they grew up. Many of us know that the lure of employment in the west comes with the sacrifice of leaving family and friends behind, and it can be cost prohibitive to visit often. For Dale, flying to Nova Scotia presents physical challenges now, and for the extended family there are the financial challenges of making the trek to northern BC.
Dale has been unable to work since his diagnosis, and having lived a life of modest means and hard work, often seasonal in nature, financial resources are extremely limited. Dale and Pam are already trying to prepare for the financial and emotional challenges they will need to face together.
While Pam has been working full time, we know that there will come a time when that may be difficult to manage, when Dale will need to acquire expensive medical equipment or mobility aids and will need care assistance to handle day to day living. They may need minor renovations or different accommodations to make residing at home an option for as long as possible and they will need help with managing the daily tasks around the house in the very near future.
Dale and Pam have lived and worked in the Fort St. John, BC, area for many years. Many of you know Dale as a musician as he has been actively engaged in the live music scene around town, playing in various ensembles, both formally and informally, (some of you may know him as “Sea-legs” or “Silverback” or “Big Sexy”). Dale could often be found skillfully serenading a crowd with his electric guitar or playing for just a few friends or family around a fire or a kitchen table with his trusty acoustic. Dale has always found great joy in entertaining others and never fails to bring a smile to people’s faces. Whether he is “Rockin’ the Blues” or singing a little John Prine ditty, this is where Dale shines!
Dale’s friends have organized a musical event benefit to be held at the Taylor Curling Club on May 11th, 2019. The event promises to be one of celebration with good friends and good times! A time to bring Dale’s fellow musicians, friends and family together to do what he loves. In honour of Dale, we hope you will join us to share some laughter, make some fabulous memories and create great music together.
Please consider any contribution you can to help make Dale and Pam’s time together as enjoyable as possible, for as long as possible, and to support them in facing the inevitable challenges ahead with a sense of comfort and security.
For those that prefer etransfer please use [email redacted]
Organizer and beneficiary
Kathy Handley
Organizer
Fort Saint John, BC
Pamela Gay
Beneficiary
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