By Rori Bennett – Junior Reporter
Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS) Awareness Day was celebrated on Saturday, May 11 in Wallaceburg.
A local youth, Alycia Lalonde ran a fundraiser on Saturday to mark the occasion.
Alycia wanted to raise awareness for CdLS, as her younger sister Mila has been diagnosed with the rare disease, which affects only one in 10,000 births, with only a few hundred known cases in Canada.
Running a table in front of PASHion Hair Salon in downtown Wallaceburg, and selling treats such as cupcakes, popcorn, cookies, and lemonade, Alycia decorated everything in purple, which is the colour of awareness for CdLS.
All money raised benefited the Canadian Cornelia de Lange Foundation.
“I wanted to give awareness,” Alycia told the Sydenham Current.
“I want to raise money for them because they just started the CdLS organization in Canada.”
Alycia’s mother, Ariel Lalonde added: “Having a child with such a rare condition, it is so important to be able to connect, and share our similarities and struggles with others on the same journey.
“Alycia approached me about the lemonade stand wanting to do something special for her sister along with a few friends she has met over the last few years that have CdLS. Alycia is super supportive and Mila is extremely lucky to have an encouraging big sister to look up to,” she said.
At the end of the day on Saturday a total of $627 was raised.
Further information about CdLS can be found, here: https://www.canadiancdlsfoundation.com/
Here are some photos from the event:
