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
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.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
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.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
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.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.