Following Espanola’s Winter Carnival and the success of its fundraisers, the Espanola Elks is giving back to the community to assist a local auxiliary and assist in research.
Elks Grand Exalted Ruler Angela Cormier Houle presented a cheque for $500 to the Espanola Regional Hospital Auxiliary to go towards its ongoing projects yesterday morning.
Another $500 will be donated at the Skate-a-thon set for this Saturday, February 25th for research into Pompe disease, a rare genetic disorder that causes progressive weakness in the heart and skeletal muscles.
Espanola’s Alex and Kelsey McKechnie’s 15-month-old daughter Iris Mae has been diagnosed with Infantile Onset Pompe and is doing well with weekly infusions, which will be a life-long process.
The Espanola Elks will be making the donation to CORD, Canadian Organizations of Rare Disorders, in Iris’s name.