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Cruisin’ Canada to raise funds for ALS Society

Abbotsford couple leave on June 1 for cross-country fundraising trip in 1953 GMC pickup
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Dianne and Mark Boutilier

An Abbotsford couple will drive across Canada in their 1953 GMC pickup to raise money for the ALS Society.

Dianne and Mark Boutilier leave from the Enviro-Grit Abrasives location in Abbotsford (#30 Second Ave.) at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, June 1 in their pickup adorned with “Cruisin’ Canada for ALS.”

Their itinerary will take them across the Prairies, through Ontario and on to Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, with plans to return to Abbotsford on July 4.

Stops along the way have been coordinated with 20 events, including car shows and ALS events.

The couple have already contributed $12,000 to the ALS Society of B.C., but hope to significantly boost these funds.

Dianne and Mark know first-hand the toll that ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease) takes on its victims and their loved ones.

A co-worker and mentor to Dianne’s son Quinn was diagnosed with ALS at age 49 and died four years later.

Their good friend, Rhonda Graw, a former Abbotsford News employee, was diagnosed in 2012 and died this year.

The Boutiliers will have “Cruisin’ Canada for ALS” T-shirts for sale at all events along their route.

All proceeds go to ALS patient service programs.

For more information or to make a donation, call Mark or Dianne at 778-241-6609 or email cruisincanada@hotmail.com.

The couple are also on the “Cruisin Canadaforals” Facebook page and on the ALS Society website at alsbc.ca (click on “events”).

ALS is a progressive neuromuscular disease.