100 Mile House shoppers have raised nearly $7,000 so far during Safeway's Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Campaign, which runs annually throughout the month of August.
Donations go to the Safeway Mobility Grant Program, which helps individuals affected by neuromuscular disorders.
The 100 Mile House Safeway had a table set up to advertise the campaign Aug. 17-18. Local resident Tina Essler was there on behalf of Muscular Dystrophy Canada, accepting donations and distributing cake and coffee.
“Hopefully, everybody learns there are a lot of people out there with different muscle problems and they're more attentive to them,” says Essler, who has been diagnosed with mitochondrial myopathy and Muscular Dystrophy.
“I know I've had issues even opening doors. I hope people pay attention to other people and what they need.”
The Safeway Mobility Grant Program helped Essler purchase a vehicle lift for her wheelchair a few years ago.
“I've seen some doctors and they've changed some medications to help me out. But I was stuck in my wheelchair and wasn't able to go anywhere.”
It's very tiring, she says of her condition.
“You get tired very fast. You're limited to what you can do.
“Lifting groceries for instance, you can't let them put a whole bunch of things in one bag. It has to be very light or you get weighed done.
Your strength is gone; walking is too much. It affects your whole body and every day is different.”
Safeway employee Steph Kostiuk says the store's fundraising goal for the month is $7,000. As of the weekend, they were 86 per cent of the way there.
“We're definitely going to make it. We've had a strong response from the community. Lots of people are happy when they find out what the cause is and they like to help out.”
All the funds raised go directly back into the community in the form of grants, he explains.
“That money assists anybody who needs help with mobility lifts and scholarships and items like that. We feel pleased here to be able to help others.”
In the past decade, more than $76 million has been raised by Safeway across North America, including $5.5 million from Canada, in support of families living with neuromuscular disorders, which affects more than 50,000 Canadians.