Kinga Njilas wins Mike and Ike\'s Ante Up! Contest

TORONTO, May 27, 2010 - In an exciting race to the finish, Kinga Njilas has won Mike and Ike's Ante Up! contest - donating the $2,500 winnings, in cash and donated products, to the ALS Society of Canada for research into treatments and a cure for ALS.

Guelph resident Njilas, 25, has made it her mission to raise funds and awareness for ALS after learning of her mother's diagnosis with the disease four years ago. Even after her mother's passing in January of this year, Njilas continues her fight by remaining a loyal and courageous ambassador for ALS Canada.

"One of the most inspirational moments of my life was having ALS patients tell me how much my fundraising work has given them hope to keep fighting," said Njilas. "Even if it didn't save them in time, I gave them the strength to keep fighting another day."

On June 6, Njilas will be holding her third annual "Cup 4 a Cure" soccer tournament in Guelph. Through this event, Njilas has raised over $3,000 for research into ALS. Njilas has also helped to raise nearly $50,000 to support ALS Canada and its mission to fund breakthrough research through sharing her story in ALS Canada's direct mail initiative.

David Cameron, President & CEO of ALS Canada says, "Lending a hand in helping to pull in more than 65,000 votes, ALS Canada facilitated 10 per cent of these votes while Njilas and hundreds of others helped to mobilize voters from across Canada, and throughout the world - including the United States, United Kingdom, and other parts of Europe, to vote for Njilas through social media tools such as twitter and email blasts sent throughout the contest. The process of voters coming together to cast their vote for Njilas shows how devoted people are to helping raise awareness and funds for ALS."

This past month Njilas received ALS Canada's Leader of Tomorrow award in recognition of her outstanding efforts to raise awareness and funds for ALS. The Leader of Tomorrow Award recognizes youth and young adults who individually or as part of a group are making a difference in the lives of those living with ALS through their volunteer efforts.

Mike and Ike's Ante Up! competition featured their top 10 nominees on their web site www.mikeandike.ca where the public was asked to vote for the young leader they felt was most inspiring based on the nominees volunteer initiatives from April 26 to May 25, 2010. A panel of judges reviewed the top 30 nominations, and created a short-list of the final 10 - based on the nominees contribution towards change be it social, educational, cultural, environmental or economical change.

ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a rapidly progressive and fatal neuromuscular disease that causes the degeneration of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. As the nerve cells die, people with ALS lose control of their muscles, which makes breathing, eating and even smiling almost impossible. Eighty per cent of those diagnosed will die within two to five years.

The ALS Society of Canada, founded in 1977, is the only national voluntary health organization dedicated solely to the fight against ALS and support for those living with ALS. The Society funds research towards a cure for ALS, supports our provincial partners in the provision of quality care for those living with ALS, and provides information to build awareness about the disease.
News Type: