Three moustaches were the price of a promise kept as Chestermere firefighters’ rooftop fundraiser for ALS climbed to nearly $45,000, more than double its original goal.
Fire Chief Cody Zebedee, Platoon Chief Brent Paquette and Platoon Chief Joel Fournie had pledged to shave if donations reached $40,000 before the campout ended. The community delivered, and the moustaches came off.
“They really thought their moustaches were safe,” the Chestermere Professional Firefighters Association wrote in a public update. “They were not.”
The lighthearted moment followed a fundraiser organized for a serious and personal reason: a member of Chestermere Fire Services had recently been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as ALS.
Members of the firefighters association organized the 72-hour campout on the roof of the Chestermere Emergency Services building from Oct. 14 to 17. Their original target was $20,000 for the ALS Society of Alberta.
By the association’s latest posted update, donations were approaching $45,000. The group said its donation page would remain open for a few more days, giving residents another opportunity to contribute.
The campaign grew through a series of challenges that gave supporters something to follow as contributions increased.
Early fundraising milestones were tied to items for the rooftop campsite, including sleeping bags, cots, chairs and tents. Higher totals brought plans for a fire pit, midnight s’mores and an ice bucket challenge.
The original $20,000 target included bringing the colleague living with ALS onto the roof to join the crew. After that goal was passed, the City announced a $30,000 challenge that would allow Kimball to turn a hose on the firefighters.
The moustaches became the next incentive, putting three senior members’ familiar appearances at the mercy of donors.
In its update confirming the shaves, the association thanked everyone who donated, shared the campaign, attended and supported the crew. It said the fundraiser had grown beyond expectations.
The department also invited residents to a community barbecue on Oct. 17 to mark the conclusion of the rooftop campout.
Support extended beyond Chestermere. The ALS Society of Alberta reported that fire stations across the province were joining ice bucket challenges and encouraging their communities to participate.
ALS is a progressive disease affecting nerve cells that control voluntary muscle movement. It can affect walking, speech, swallowing and breathing, with changing needs for individuals, families and caregivers.
The ALS Society of Alberta offers individualized support, information, referrals and an equipment loan program. Available equipment includes mobility aids and communication devices, helping people manage everyday activities as their needs change.
The equipment program is free of charge, and the society also provides family support through home visits, regular contact and support groups.
With nearly $45,000 reported, the association raised the possibility of another milestone: $50,000. It hinted that a bigger challenge might follow, but announced no commitment or details.
For now, the campaign’s most visible promise has been fulfilled. Three moustaches are gone, while the fundraising continues for Albertans living with ALS and the families supporting them through the changes the disease brings.