North Vancouver Olympic skier Brodie Seger was recently honoured with a Leaders of Tomorrow Award for his advocacy and efforts in the fight against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
The 25-year-old downhill ski star was given the 2021 ALS Society of BC Leader of Tomorrow Award in recognition of a campaign he ran to raise awareness and funds for ALS in honour of his father, who is living with the disease. Last year Seger held a contest for artists to create an ALS-themed design to be displayed on his racing helmet, bringing on Haywood Securities to offer a $1,000 award for the winning design. Seger did a lot of promotional work to raise the profile of the issue and the Helmet 4 Hope contest as well, helping him collect more than $18,000 in donations for the cause.
Seger said he was inspired by his younger brother Riley Seger, also a competitive skier, who won the same award after raising nearly $9,000 running for Team ALS BC in the 2019 BMO Marathon.
"I’m extremely honored that my name is going on the Leaders of Tomorrow plaque below that of my younger brother,” stated Brodie Seger in a release. “This cause has been close to our hearts ever since our father’s diagnosis, but it was my brother’s fundraising initiative that ultimately inspired me to use my platform as an athlete to help make a difference. I was overwhelmed by the response to the Helmet 4 Hope project, and I’m thankful to everyone who made it a success. I felt the love and passion within this community, and it made me confident about what is yet to come in this fight against ALS.”
Seger’s award was presented at an April 5 ceremony hosted by the ALS Society of BC.
“Brodie is the epitome of this award,” stated Wendy Toyer, the society’s executive director. “He is an amazing young man and a true leader. The ALS design on his racing helmet is a symbol of hope for people living with, and affected by, ALS.”
Seger finished 22nd in downhill and ninth in alpine combined at the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing.
