Laurie Carrol

Sometimes our heroes need our help. Laurie Carrol has given selflessly to her community over her lifetime and has dealt with the challenges of ALS in a way that inspires us all. To keep on fighting, she now needs an expensive wheelchair that OHIP does not cover. The ALS society will be covering a small portion of the cost. 

Laurie is a loving wife to Randy, mom of three grown boys Ben (Erin), Brandon and Jordan, and cherished Grandma to Rhett and Isla who she inspires on a daily basis through her perseverance, strength and spirit. She has always been a strong, independent woman who isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. Laurie has many passions in her life including wood working, baseball, curling and gardening just to name a few.  Laurie is a fabulous cook and she enjoys baking treats for her family, her blueberry cheesecake is to die for!



Laurie has been called to service her local and global community on many occasions. In 2013 she went on a mission trip to El Salvador to help build a house. She dedicated many years of her career to working with Habitat for Humanity to help many struggling families realize their potential and achieve their home ownership dreams.  Laurie led a series of workshops to empower women in her community by teaching them how to use power tools, use paints and stains to create their own décor. And this year, with the help of her niece Chantelle, Laurie organized a family skate fundraiser for the ALS Society of Canada.  

In 2017 Laurie was diagnosed with ALS. ALS, for those of you who aren’t familiar, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease which affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. The degeneration of the motor neurons limits the person’s ability to move their muscles and as a result those muscles atrophy. This can make even the simplest of movements extremely difficult and over time impacts a person’s ability to move their arms and legs, eat, talk and breathe.  Laurie has continued to work up until about two months ago. Since her diagnosis Laurie has slowly progressed from using a cane to a walker and scooter. She has participated in a drug trial to slow the progression of the disease and participated in a couple of research studies to help grow the understanding of the disease. This summer she will be participating in a new gene trial in hope of recovering some of her strength. Right now, Laurie is in need of a new wheelchair. The chair will be fitted to Laurie’s body, have pressure reducing foam surfaces, controls for both her and her caregivers to use and have the capability to recline and stand her up.