Help Maggie Fight ALS
Donation protected
My best friend Maggie Dong has been diagnosed with ALS.* She's 36, and was 33 when symptoms began. She was my bridesmaid, she's an aunt to my kids, and her family and friends are doing all we can to help her through this.
Her symptoms are progressing slowly compared to average, but her mobility is starting to be affected, and she is no longer working. She is trained as an engineer, from the University of Toronto 0T7+PEY class, and worked as an industrial engineer for about 10 years before having to stop.
The pandemic has put on hold promising clinical trials, and it is unknown when they may restart.
ALS has no cure, but there are therapies that can slow the progression of the disease. While there are treatments that are recognized in Canada, they are unfunded in Ontario and her family is currently paying out of pocket at a cost of $50,000-$70,000 per year, with more costs potentially on the horizon as both research and her disease progress.
The purpose of this fundraiser is to help offset some of the costs for her treatment and her care. In the event of a surplus in funds, the surplus will be donated to UofT via the Engineering Alumni Network to fund scholarships for women in engineering.
The funds will not be used for general living expenses or quality of life enhancements like travel, though for the sake of transparency it should be noted that such expenses are planned.
This is a terrible situation, and her and her family bearing the financial burden of treatment only compounds things.
Any and all support is greatly appreciated.
*ALS is a progressive and currently incurable neurodegenerative disease with a typical life expectancy of 2-3 years from diagnosis. ALS, a type of motor neuron disease, is very rare. You have approximately a 0.1% chance of developing it in your lifetime, and most of the people diagnosed are between 55 and 75 years of age. 90% of cases are termed sporadic, meaning they occur randomly in the population, with no known cause.
Her symptoms are progressing slowly compared to average, but her mobility is starting to be affected, and she is no longer working. She is trained as an engineer, from the University of Toronto 0T7+PEY class, and worked as an industrial engineer for about 10 years before having to stop.
The pandemic has put on hold promising clinical trials, and it is unknown when they may restart.
ALS has no cure, but there are therapies that can slow the progression of the disease. While there are treatments that are recognized in Canada, they are unfunded in Ontario and her family is currently paying out of pocket at a cost of $50,000-$70,000 per year, with more costs potentially on the horizon as both research and her disease progress.
The purpose of this fundraiser is to help offset some of the costs for her treatment and her care. In the event of a surplus in funds, the surplus will be donated to UofT via the Engineering Alumni Network to fund scholarships for women in engineering.
The funds will not be used for general living expenses or quality of life enhancements like travel, though for the sake of transparency it should be noted that such expenses are planned.
This is a terrible situation, and her and her family bearing the financial burden of treatment only compounds things.
Any and all support is greatly appreciated.
*ALS is a progressive and currently incurable neurodegenerative disease with a typical life expectancy of 2-3 years from diagnosis. ALS, a type of motor neuron disease, is very rare. You have approximately a 0.1% chance of developing it in your lifetime, and most of the people diagnosed are between 55 and 75 years of age. 90% of cases are termed sporadic, meaning they occur randomly in the population, with no known cause.
Organizer and beneficiary
Megan Hostetter
Organizer
Scarborough, ON
Maggie Dong
Beneficiary