Alberta firefighters camp out to raise ALS support as costs burden families

Chestermere firefighters began a 72-hour rooftop fundraiser for the ALS Society of Alberta and colleague Kimball Yorston, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2025. The effort comes as a new national report estimates the disease costs $628.2 million annually, with patients and families shouldering most of the burden.

CTV News Calgary has reported:

Chestermere firefighters began a 72-hour rooftop campout fundraiser at noon Wednesday to support colleague Kimball Yorston and the ALS Society of Alberta, as a national report detailed the financial toll of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Donations met the original $20,000 goal before the campout began, prompting the team to raise its target to $30,000.

Yorston, a member of the Chestermere Fire Services team, was diagnosed with ALS in 2025. He is among approximately 4,000 Canadians living with the fatal disease, which progressively affects muscle control and can eventually prevent people from walking, talking, eating or breathing. There is no cure, and most people die within two to five years of diagnosis.

A report released Wednesday by ALS Canada estimates the disease costs $628.2 million annually across the country. Patients, caregivers and their families bear about 78 per cent of those costs. The organization is calling on the federal government to invest $50 million in research over the next five years to help reduce the financial burden on people affected by ALS.

“It’s the home stuff, it’s the work stuff. It’s a huge burden on the family,” said Cody Zebedee, fire chief with Chestermere Fire Services. The costs can include lost wages, time away from work for appointments and equipment that helps people live at home and continue working, said Lisa Copeland of the ALS Society of Alberta.

“Approximately 400 Albertans face ALS this year, you know. It’ll help them through different means whether it’s with wheelchairs, power chairs, lifts, bathroom (accessories) and it makes a difference,” Yorston said. “The ALS Society helps soften that blow so much but there is still a lot of cost families face,” he added.

ALS Canada CEO Tammy Moore said the report’s figures reflect a health and financial emergency for households. “ALS is a health care crisis but when we look at these numbers it’s also a financial crisis and behind these numbers are families that simply can’t afford an ALS diagnosis,” she said.

Firefighters set fundraising milestones to encourage donations during the three days and nights on the fire hall roof. Zebedee said other fire stations around Alberta have joined the effort. “It’s spread to a bunch of other locals (fire stations) around Alberta, which is great to see awareness, and you know, supporting Kimball in all this,” he said.

The fundraiser is scheduled to conclude with a community barbecue at the fire hall at noon Saturday.