CTV’s Will Aiello creates new initiative for a good cause
Paddle with Purpose is a new initiative created by CTV Northern Ontario’s very own Will Aiello. He will be paddle boarding on one of Sudbury’s most popular lakes while raising money and awareness for a good cause.
On Aug. 4. Will Aiello will be stand up paddle boarding for 24 hours straight on Ramsey Lake, in honour of someone very close to his heart.
“I’m going to be doing this to raise charity money and awareness for CORD. They are the Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders and I am going to be doing this in memory of my brother in law Mario La Valle,” said Aiello.
La Valle passed away in 2019 from an extremely rare form of cancer. Aiello says he is the driving force behind the entire campaign.
“Mario was the most incredible person that I had ever met. You look at somebody that you would want to take care of your sister for the rest of your life and he was that guy,” said Aiello.
“He was a brother to me and all he ever did was create positive change. So, I wanted to do something in his memory, and honour where I’m able, to create positive change.”
Aiello says he came up with this initiative to not only raise money for the Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders but also to raise awareness and to change people’s lives for the better.
“Not a lot of people are aware of these rare disorders and I think it’s important that we shine a light on that,” said Aiello.
Officials with Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders say approximately three million Canadians are affected by these health issues, which is why they were happy to team up with Aiello for such a great cause.
“We’re absolutely thrilled that not only is he raising the funds for us but he’s also raising awareness around rare diseases. Certainly around clinicians who may actually be baffled and really have not considered whether it’s a rare disease,” said Durhane Wong-Rieger, CEO with Canadian Organization for Rate Disorders.
“We have six or seven thousand rare diseases. We do not expect anyone to know all these diseases but we do expect that if in fact you are approached with something that could be a rare disease that you could take that next step.”
Aiello says he’s been training for this 24 paddle board trip since March, both in the gym, and on the water.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.