A local man has been honoured for his work advocating for people living with ALS.
Dave Jeffery was given an ALS Society of BC Advocacy Award that recognizes individuals for their efforts and initiatives to change public policy to benefit those diagnosed with the disease.
Jeffery was given his ALS diagnosis six and a half years ago, and passed away on March 26. His son, Robby, accepted the award on his behalf in a virtual ceremony on April 6.
“In his efforts to express what he was going through, he found himself,” Robby said. “His big message was, in spite of negative circumstances, there can be opportunities to experience and share God’s grace in everyday living, where we can feel encouraged and uplifted and help others to experience the same.”
Jeffery wrote three books and published two articles in Faith Today Magazine, sharing his experiences living with ALS. His goal was to raise awareness and to support programs and services for others who were fighting the disease.
In his third book, The Six-Month Guy, Jeffery wrote about his journey with “courageous, intimate and emotional transparency, and is open about the importance of his faith,” said a news release from the ALS Society of Canada.
“He described how ALS has affected his family and friends, and about the physical and emotional challenges of the disease. He shares the practical solutions he and his family discovered in the hope of helping others.”
Robby said that his father had shared some of the correspondence with him that he had received from others appreciating his work, and that made him proud.
On April 17, a memorial service will be live-streamed from Sevenoaks Alliance Church for everyone to attend.
“As a family member and somebody who was involved with caregiving for my father, diagnoses like these are terrible, life-changing and difficult for us to come to terms with. But there’s a great opportunity within such diagnoses for family to grow together, and grow stronger, to bless and be blessed.”
