Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about ALS, sometimes called Lou Gehrig's disease. June is ALS month across Canada and today I am proud to wear a blue cornflower, the floral emblem of the ALS Society of Canada.
Imagine individuals not being able to walk, write, smile, talk, or even breathe on their own and yet their mind usually remains alert. This is what is happening to ALS victims. More than 1,500 Canadians suffer from this disease. It can strike anyone and results in complete paralysis and death, generally within three to five years of diagnosis. Each day two to three Canadians die of ALS. Although promising research continues there is still no known cure.
Throughout the month of June ALS volunteers will be asking the public for donations to fund research to fight this devastating disease. I urge my colleagues and all Canadians to make a generous donation so the dream of finding a cure soon becomes a reality.