Frida Backlund designs limited-edition hoodie for ALS support
The ALS Society of Alberta is continuing its partnership with Alberta Apparel for a hoodie fundraiser supporting Albertans living with ALS.
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Frida Backlund, wife of Calgary Flames Captain Mikael Backlund, designed the special-edition hoodies in honour of her late mother, who lived with ALS. Titled Memory in Bloom, the apparel features cornflowers — the national symbol for ALS, representing hope, resilience and dedication to finding a cure.
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'For me, this design is personal,' said Frida Backlund. 'Through this collaboration, I can honour my Mom's memory and help others facing this disease. The cornflower is a symbol of strength, and I hope wearing this hoodie reminds people that we can all help in working toward a future without ALS.'
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The presale for the hoodie went live Wednesday with proceeds donated directly to the ALS Society of Alberta to fund essential support services and provincial research.
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Calgary-based Alberta Apparel, known for ethically-sourcing items and supporting the local economy, is proud to contribute to this fundraising initiative.
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'We believe in giving back to causes that matter,' said Thomas Mo, Founder of Alberta Apparel. 'The ALS Society of Alberta provides vital support to so many families, and we're honored to help raise both awareness and funds through this collaboration.'
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All funds raised will help provide critical support for those living with ALS, including communication and mobility equipment and connection to resources and care to improve the quality of life for those affected by the disease. Funds will also support provincial research efforts towards a cure.
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This isn't the first time the Backlunds have opened their wallets to support ALS research initiatives in the province. In 2024, the couple helped fund the Achievements for Ann — Backlund Fellowship. The first ever recipients of the fellowship — Dr. Evandro Jose Beraldi and Dr. Parastoo Razmara — are to receive $140,000 each over two years to to pursue research projects that 'show significant promise in helping to better understand the cause, and a potential cure, for ALS,' the ALS Society of Alberta said in a December 2024 news release.
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