Friends and family of a Squamish ski instructor who was diagnosed with ALS have launched a Go Fund Me page for him.
Ryoichi was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) last spring. Caitlin Stanley, who started the fundraiser, said she worked with Ryoichi at both Ski School and Lift Ops for Whistler Blackcomb and later became his neighbour in Squamish.
“It was a shock to me to hear last spring that he had ALS and then to see firsthand how debilitating ALS is,” she said.
Ryoichi (“Yoyo”) Hosoya and his wife Winnie are currently in California for a cutting-edge clinical trial. and they plan to be there until the end of June, or as long as his condition allows.
He has had two cell transplants so far and a third is due at the end of March.
The family had had to organize multiple trips to California for trial visits, as well as the doctor’s visits, appointments with specialists in Canada and California, and countless sleepless nights.
Winnie is on compassionate leave and has been with Ryoichi the whole time since early December.
“They sure could do with our support right now, and I know any contribution you are able to make would be met with immense gratitude,” said Stanley.
The fundraiser hopes to raise $20,000.
