Recently, numerous communities throughout New Brunswick took part in 2026 Walk & Roll for Muscular Dystrophy Canada showing how strong community can be.
The events took place in Saint John, Fredericton, and Moncton and brought people of different abilities who walked, rolled, connected and raised awareness about the problems of people and families with neuromuscular disorders. Apart from raising money, this year’s events acted as the starting point for launching the national advocacy campaign of Muscular Dystrophy Canada “What About Canada?” aimed at accelerating access to new treatments for neuromuscular disorders.
The campaign shows difficulties faced by many families in Canada when their children need certain therapies, which are already approved in other countries and therefore are either inaccessible in Canada or take too much time to approve. People who took part in the events have an opportunity to sign the national petition calling for establishing a fast-track approval process for neuromuscular treatments.
“We are thrilled to kick off our national campaign What About Canada? during this year’s Walk & Rolls to empower Maritimers to speak out and make sure our message is heard – Canada must do better!” said Stacey Lintern, the CEO of Muscular Dystrophy Canada.
The events underscored the important role that community plays in creating change. Families, caregivers, volunteers, and supporters gathered not only to raise funds for research, assistive devices, and family support programs but also to build connections and solidarity around a shared cause.
At their heart, the Walk & Roll events were a reminder that community impact extends beyond a single day. By bringing people together around advocacy, awareness, and support, these gatherings help strengthen the networks that individuals and families rely on while encouraging public action on issues that affect the lives of many Canadians.
As communities continue to champion inclusion and accessibility, initiatives like Walk & Roll demonstrate how local engagement can contribute to broader conversations about health equity, policy change, and ensuring that no family is left behind.
