Every day, nearly three Canadians are diagnosed with ALS. Tragically, 80 per cent of them will die within two to five years.

But for TransLink’s Donna Bartel, that staggering statistic isn’t the end of the story. It’s a call to action.

In memory of her mother, in honour of her friend, and in hope for the future, Donna is on a mission to give support and hope to those living with ALS.

She’s raising money by competing in a triathlon in every single province and territory in Canada.

Donna’s fundraising journey began in 1999, when her mother received a devastating ALS diagnosis.

ALS, or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, is a disease that damages the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that controls muscle movement. It leads to weakness and difficulties in speaking, eating, and breathing. There is no cure for ALS.

“I was a runner already,” says Donna. “So, my sister and I signed up for the Vancouver Marathon to raise funds. But we realized there wasn’t a race specifically for ALS.”

So, they started one.

From 2001 to 2008, Donna and her sister hosted a 5K run, walk, and roll event to raise funds for ALS.

Even though the run ended, Donna’s aim to give support and hope to those living with ALS endured.

And endure she did, choosing to compete in the Ironman Canada Triathlon as a fundraiser in 2010 and 2012 — dubbing it, “Tri-ing to End ALS.”

A triathlon is a multi-discipline athletic event that involves swimming, cycling, and running in immediate succession over various distances.

Tri-ing to End ALS

Now, Donna and her husband, Mike Pearson, are Tri-ing to End ALS once again.

Seventeen triathlons. Ten provinces. Three territories. One powerful cause.

Their journey begins in May in Nanaimo before moving across Canada, ending back in BC in September at Cultus Lake. The couple will travel coast to coast to raise awareness and funds for ALS.

Donna and Mike have the support of all the ALS societies across Canada.

Fifty per cent of all funds raised will be donated to each province’s ALS society’s patient services. The remaining 50 per cent will be donated to ALS Society of British Columbia’s PROJECT HOPE, which aims to create a world-class ALS centre at the University of British Columbia to help end ALS.

The call for action

Brad MacKenzie, a systems engineer at TransLink who worked on the Compass Card system, was just 29 years old when he was diagnosed with ALS. Despite the challenges, he continued to work remotely, joining meetings from his modified workstation at home, leading projects, and inspiring everyone around him.

Brad became one of the most recognizable faces of ALS advocacy in Canada, appearing in national TV spots and serving on the ALS Society board. He lived with ALS for eight years before passing away in early 2024.

“We think about Brad often,” Donna says. “He was brilliant, dedicated, and he never gave up. This journey is for people like him.”

Donna is a Senior Sustainability Advisor at TransLink. In her role, she advances the implementation of TransLink’s corporate sustainability program, which includes the Climate Action Strategy, Climate Action Plan and Low Carbon Fleet Strategy. She has also been on the Board of the ALS Society of BC since 2011.

How you can help

This summer, Donna is doing more than just racing across Canada. She’s carrying the hopes of thousands with every stroke, spin, and stride.

You can donate, follow their journey or learn more at triingtoendals.ca.

She’s showing us what resilience looks like, and reminding us that while ALS may be relentless, so is love, community, and the will to make a difference.

Donna and Mike are covering all their travel costs, so 100 per cent of your donation goes directly to ALS patient services and research.

Let’s help her get there. Let’s Tri to End ALS, together.