As the ALS Campaign Chairperson or a member of the Campaign Committee, you have the opportunity to play an important role in helping the ALS Society find a treatment or cure for Lou Gehrig's Disease.

Thanks to the collective efforts of people like you and hundreds of others who gave time and support, hundreds of thousands of dollars have been raised for ALS research.

The Society in its Neuromuscular Research Partnership is committed to contributing over $400,000 to the next competition. MDAC contributes the same amount and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) match this .50 for every dollar. CIHR also makes an additional contribution to this research in each competition.

Our Canadian ALS researchers are on the cutting edge of the worldwide research that we hope will one day lead to a cure for this deadly disease.

This guide is intended to provide you with the tools and information you need to run an effective campaign to raise funds for research.

Thank you very much for your time and support. People with ALS and their families are counting on us all!

In 1990, Health and Welfare Canada approached the Society and indicated that they would be interested in declaring one month of the year as ALS Awareness Month. Because we had already been doing Flower Day in June, we asked that June be formally endorsed as ALS Awareness Month. As well, Lou Gehrig retired from baseball in June, and when he died of ALS in 1941, it was also in June.

Now, each year, the ALS Society of Canada sends to “Health Canada” (as it is now known) a prepared statement to be read in the House of Commons to promote June ALS Awareness Month across the country. This year's statement reads:

Mr Speaker
I am pleased to inform the House and all Canadians that June is ALS month.
ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, is a rapidly progressive and fatal neuromuscular disease. While most people die within five years of a diagnosis, many live longer. There are approximately 2000 Canadians living with the disease and two or three Canadians a day die of ALS.

The ALS Society funds research for a cure through the Neuromuscular Research Partnership and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). The Tim E. Noel Endowment Fund, named for the deputy governor of the Bank of Canada who lives with ALS, is a cornerstone in the ALS Society program.

On June 14th we are invited to wear the cornflower pin to show our support of those with ALS while volunteers from the Society meet with MPs and public servants to improve services to people with ALS and their families.

During ALS month various activities are held across the country. Flower Day, as it was originally called originated from an idea developed by the London, Ontario Chapter. Mrs. Jean Hudson, wife of Dr. Arthur Hudson, then chair of the National Scientific Advisory Committee of the National Board of Directors, started the London group in 1985 and they raised $3,000. In that same year the idea was adopted by the Board of Directors as a National program.

During ALS month, volunteers are recruited or come forward to host activities speak to the public and obtain a donation for research. Each donor is given an ALS cornflower or other item to show our appreciation and to increase the public's awareness of this devastating disease.

The first weekend in June has traditionally been designated for the campaign. However, all of June is ALS Awareness Month, therefore the campaign can be run over several weekends.

A campaign provides the opportunity to greatly increase public and community awareness of the disease and the goals of the ALS Society.

Increased public awareness will help ensure greater financial support. Once people know who you are, and what your cause is, they are much more likely to give.

Increased awareness will also attract more volunteers. Volunteers are vital for our committees, for special events and for on-going fundraising events throughout the year. Volunteers are also a crucial part of helping to make each ALS month stronger and more successful.

The Cornflower (Centaurea cyanis) is a native annual/ biennial plant from Mediterranean Europe. Representing positive hope for the future, the Cornflower is a humble reminder of nature's simple beauty and the fullness of life's cycle. The Blue Cornflower is to ALS what the Daffodil is to Cancer....they are the Flower of Hope for both diseases. The Blue Cornflower is the international flower of hope for ALS/ MND.

The Blue Cornflower plant is a very courageous plant, being able to stand up all the elements of nature (something many other plants cannot do) and the flower, with its star-like blossoms of brilliant blue, is one of our most striking wild-flowers. When you relate this to people with this disease, you can see that they have to also show courage, something that is not always easy, and strength of character to cope with the devastating changes that occur to the muscles in their bodies.

The Blue Cornflower was chosen to symbolize ALS, as it hardy despite its fragile appearance. It is also long lasting, and grows in most locations in Canada. As the Blue Cornflower is planted, awareness of ALS grows along with it across the country.

The Latin name, Cyanus, was given the Cornflower as it was the goddess Flora's (Cyanus) favourite. The name of the genus is derived from the Centaur, Chiron, who taught mankind the healing virtue of herbs.

In the wild condition, it is fairly common in cultivated fields and by roadsides. The stems are 1 to 3 feet high, tough and wiry, slender, furrowed and branched, somewhat angular and covered with a loose cottony down. The leaves, very narrow and long, are arranged alternately on the somewhat dull and gray appearance. The lower leaves are much broader and often have a roughly-toothed outline. The flowers grow solitary, and of necessity upon long stalks to raise them among the corn. The bracts enclosing the hard head of the flower are numerous, with tightly overlapping scales, each bordered by a fringe of brown teeth. The inner disk florets are small and numerous, of a pale purplish rose colour. The bright blue ray florets, that form the conspicuous part of the flower, are large, widely spread, and much cut into.

The flowers are used in modern herbal medicine, as they are considered to have tonic, stimulating properties, with action similar to that of Blessed Thistle. A water distilled from Cornflower petals was formerly in repute as a remedy for weak eyes. The famous French eyewash, 'Eau de Casselunettes', used to be made from them. The powder of the dried leaves has been used to treat those that are bruised by a fall of have broken a vein inwardly. The seeds or leaves taken in wine is are good for treating infectious diseases, and are very good in pestilential fevers. The expressed juice of the petals makes a good blue ink; if expressed and mixed with alum-water, it may be used for water-colour painting. It dyes linen a beautiful blue, but the colour is not permanent. The dried petals are used by perfumeries for giving colour to pot-pourri.