Mark Kirton Didn’t Just Talk About Change. He Made it Happen.

Honouring an NHL hero who turned his ALS diagnosis into a movement of action and generosity

Kevin Moorhead, Senior Director of Cause Funds at Charitable Impact, still remembers the surreal moment four years ago when he met NHLer Mark Kirton, a childhood hockey hero whose trading cards he’d once collected. 

Mark laughed and said, “That’s worth about a nickel now.” Kevin was disarmed by how humble he was — so quick to smile and put everyone at ease.

But Mark was no longer the NHL player Kevin used to watch on television. Like their late friend Greg Gowe, he was courageously battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disease. 

True to the competitor he’d always been, Mark didn’t just hope for a cure. He acted. From the start, he turned his diagnosis into a rallying cry, determined to build something bigger than himself. 

Turning his diagnosis into action

Mark’s life took a dramatic turn in 2018 when he was diagnosed with ALS. Rather than retreat, he became a fierce advocate and champion, rallying his network to fuel a new kind of philanthropy: one where everyone worked as a team. 

During one of their early conversations, Mark proposed an idea: “What if we didn’t just raise money for one single charity? What if we created something bigger, a cause fund that supports all charities fighting ALS…like a Super Fund?” 

And so, in 2023, the ALS Super Fund started taking shape — a visionary solution to unite efforts across organizations in the fight against ALS. 

Mark once said that the beauty of a Cause Fund is that patients come together to have their voices heard to make a difference in the ALS world. And, donors don’t have to be experts to give where the need is greatest, because a panel of experts do that for you, and then report back on the progress, 

Through Mark’s action-oriented leadership, the ALS Super Fund reshaped how funds were raised and distributed in pursuit of ending the disease. Mark didn’t just lend his name. He rolled up his sleeves, rallied his network, and built a new model for impact.

The hockey family steps up

As a Cause Leader, Mark inspired a powerful community of supporters, many of whom were part of his hockey family. 

MLSE, owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs, was one of the first to step up, helping secure $600,000 to seed the ALS Super Fund. 

Börje Salming, the legendary Leafs defenseman who also battled ALS, lent his support before his passing. 

Jeff Jackson, President of the Edmonton Oilers, rallied NHL teams to back the Super Fund’s ‘Courage to Fight’ fundraising event in under 36 hours. 

Long-time friends like Ron MacLean and Daryl Sittler stood unwavering by Mark’s side. 

In September 2024 at the Wellington Building on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Darryl Sittler announced the ALS Super Fund had surpassed $1 million in donations, just nine short months after all 7 Canadian NHL franchises united in their support to raise funds. 

Mark’s response was simple: “This is great. But we can’t stop now.”

Generosity is a team sport

This innovative Cause Funds model not only advanced Mark’s vision, but also set a standard for collaborative philanthropy. 

For John Bromley, CEO of Charitable Impact, Mark was so much more than an ALS champion — he was a symbol of generosity in action. 

“Mark was awesome,” said Bromley. “He took action towards something he wanted to change, gave it his time and talent, and invited his network to participate. We can all do that. His legacy is not only about ALS or his family. He showed the world that in order to create change, you must act.” 

Mark’s journey highlights the ripple effect of community-driven generosity. He showed us that generosity isn’t about status or resources, it’s about stepping forward and making things happen. His story reminds us that anyone can take action: support a cause, rally a community, or start something new.

Carrying Mark’s legacy forward

“As I got to know him, I discovered he was one of the kindest, most driven, and most visionary people I’ve ever met,” said Kevin in an online tribute to his friend. “Even as ALS took so much from him, he kept giving his time, his energy, and his voice to fight for others and to push for a future without this disease.”

To honour Mark is to follow his game plan: patient-led, team-first, and results-driven. Keep expanding the roster and aim every dollar at what works.

Kevin added, “We’ll keep growing the team you captained to end this disease.” 

Learn more about the ALS Super Fund and consider joining the mission he started. 

However you choose to give, we can all play a part in continuing Mark’s work. Together, we can keep his legacy alive by taking action towards finding the cure for ALS.