Interest in ALS jump skyhigh

Support for Derek Walton's historic parachute jump for his PALS (People with ALS) event on Saturday at Skydive Toronto in Innisfil, continues to grow.

Walton's effort was first profiled in the Examiner earlier this week.

Since then, and following a successful fundraiser in Pickering last weekend, has helped push the foundation closer to its $100,000 goal. Entertainment confirmed for jump day includes clowns, face painting, live music, members of the Toronto Argo by their cheerleaders.

The event begins at 1:30 p.m. with Walton's jump scheduled for 3 p.m.

Walton's intent for the jump is to raise awareness of the neurological disease, better known as Lou Gehrig's Disease after the famous New York Yankee player, which normally claims its victims within three years of diagnosis. Most clinical support for patients and families in Southern Ontario is only at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto. Walton is in the small percentile of patients where the progress of the disease in much slower, having battled the effects for more than seven years.

Skydive Toronto is located on the 4th Line and 10th Line of Innisfil.

For more information about Walton and his adventure, visit www.waltoncure4als.ca.

The Barrie Examiner, Staff