Stage Door News
Stage Door News
After almost three decades with The New Classical FM, radio personality and host of “The Oasis” Kerry Stratton, announced his retirement from the daily afternoon drive time slot on-air last week. Stratton shared today that he has recently been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neurone disease (MND), or Lou Gehrig's disease.
ALS gradually destroys the neurons controlling voluntary muscles, impacting the ability to move one’s limbs, to speak, eat, swallow, and eventually breathe. There is no known cure for ALS and 80% of those diagnosed succumb to the disease within two to five years.
A highly respected figure among Toronto’s classical music scene, Stratton is also known as the music director and conductor of Toronto Concert Orchestra, Casa Loma’s orchestra-in-residence, and face of the historic property’s Symphony in the Garden, a popular open-air summer-long classical music series which just completed it fifth season.
Stratton leaves his daily show to take more time with his family and pursue other projects because he stresses, “I have more music within me to share.”
Stratton’s diagnosis means his family will face astronomical costs in the coming years. The ALS Society of Canada estimates that a diagnosis of ALS costs the average family $150,000-250,000 over the course of the disease.
A GoFundMe campaign has been setup for Stratton’s future needs and so that supporters may send notes of their fond memories of his radio broadcasts and concerts and make donations. Those wishing to show their support may visit www.gofundme.com/supportkerrystratton.
2018-12-06
Toronto: GoFundMe campaign launched for retiring broadcaster and conductor Kerry Stratton