SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - "I would rather face Huntington's disease than drink again," Ray Oxford said over a cup of coffee on a recent Sunday morning.

Ray Oxford said he has been alcohol-free for 13 years. In 2004 he was diagnosed with Huntington's disease but still considers his life better than when he was drinking. - Tim Edwards/NNSL photo

His voice is a little shaky and his movements are hindered by the incurable neurodegenerative disease, but he is happy and, most importantly, alive.

"Thirteen years ago I was dead, and because of Alcoholics Anonymous I got 13 years on my life," said Oxford, who drank hard for 25 years before finally giving himself a chance with Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).

The 53-year-old walks with a cane and can appear unstable in his movements because of the disease, which has also affected his speech. Because of these symptoms, people he encounters in public sometimes think he is intoxicated.

He was diagnosed in 2004, after which he quit smoking and took up jogging. Huntington's disease is hereditary and two of his sisters also have it.

The Huntington's Society of Canada website says there is no cure or even treatment to slow the disease. Symptoms include involuntary movements, inability to focus, difficulty talking, moving, swallowing, and even thinking. Ultimately, it leads to incapacitation and death.

"I have a wheelchair now. I know one of these days I'm going to need it," said Oxford.

Right now, Oxford is still mobile and taking full advantage of it, and the disease has not affected his sense of humour.

Although it has impaired some aspects of his daily living, Oxford said there is no pain with Huntington's.

"The only time it hurts is when people don't understand my jokes," Oxford said with a chuckle.

An active volunteer, he's helped with the Arctic Winter Games and with the Terry Fox Run, among other things.

He received a letter from the Terry Fox Foundation telling him he was in the top 250 fundraisers in the NWT, Alberta, and the Yukon, and thanking him for his dedication.

"I know a lot of people in Yellowknife and I say if you don't sponsor me, you gotta run with me. So they sponsor me," said Oxford with a laugh.

As well, Oxford has just got his black belt in Kung Fu.

Above all things, though, comes AA. Oxford stays heavily involved with the organization to help others who risk losing their lives to excessive drinking.

He has even hosted teleconferences across the NWT and Nunavut - AA meetings to help out people in communities. Though alcoholism is one of the biggest social problems in the North, there is no formal AA group north of Yellowknife in the NWT or Nunavut.

As well, he makes himself available through the holidays.

"It's a hard time for people to quit drinking during Christmas and New Year's," said Oxford.

"We do AA meetings around the clock every two hours. I'm there all the time during Christmas and New Year's."

He said the best reward is when people who were going to go and drink during Christmas end up staying at the AA meetings and thanking him for the help.

A 2008 nominee for the GNWT's Volunteer of the Year award, Oxford has also received a plaque of recognition from AA as he has bought food for meetings and has done extensive volunteering with the group.