The Ice Bucket Challenge this summer has raised money and awareness for ALS and one local family is thankful people are talking about it.

Flipping through the family photo album, Beth Garner and her daughters, Heather and Lea, recount cherished memories of husband and father Ted.

“He had a great smirk and sense of humour…even to his dying days,” says Beth.

Ted Garner passed away in July after a 15 year battle with ALS. His family opened the Garner Sports store in Barrie more than 70 years ago and he was an avid golfer. But after being diagnosed with ALS his life changed forever.

“You truck along fine and then you drop and you never get to go back up there,” adds Beth.

“It’s such a rip off, my dad was only 62 and it was hard to watch him fall apart like that,” says Heather.

There is no cure for the disease, which affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord causing the inability to control muscles. Three thousand Canadians are living with ALS and 80% die within two to five years following diagnosis.

Ted’s family say they were fortunate to have him as part of their lives for much longer.

“He was able to walk my sister and I down the aisle which we never thought would happen,” says Lea.

“He met his grandkids and they called him ‘Pa’ and het got so much joy out of that,” adds Heather.  

It’s a disease not many people know about and the Garner family would like that to change.

Ice Bucket Challenges, like the one taken by 30 Cabela employees in Barrie on Thursday, have helped spread awareness of the disease while also raising donations to help find a cure.

The Garner family has been closely watching all the through social media and on CTV Barrie. They’re amazed by the outpouring of support.

“I’m proud of everybody, it’s viral and it’s fabulous,” adds Beth.

“Two weeks ago if you were to ask people what ALS is you probably wouldn’t have got an answer, now you would,” says Lea.

So far ALS Canada says more than $10 million has been raised across the country from the Ice Bucket Challenge. While the campaign gives hope of a cure for those living with the disease, for Ted Garner’s wife and daughter it’s helping them find comfort and strength to help others with ALS.

“Even though it brings back sad feelings, it’s such a positive thing for ALS,” says Heather.

“It allows me to think and about the joy that Ted would have got from watching and to know these funds are going to be used,” adds Beth.

The Garner’s are now planning to help spread awareness too and are organizing a charity golf tournament in the summer of 2015.