The Christmas Seal campaign is the major fundraiser for the BC Lung Association for the year.
Already residents in the Grand Forks-Boundary area have received the Christmas Seal appeal letter in the mail. This has been delivered to known contributors and householders are delivered to attract new donors. This fundraiser began over 100 years ago to fight tuberculosis (TB).
The BC Lung Association had a strong presence at the Grand Forks Fair and the Rock Creek and Boundary Fall Fair in September. A lung health and air quality forum was presented by staff from the head office and Interior Health in late-September.
The BC Lung Association has representation on the environmental committee and was originally part of the Boundary Air Quality Committee.
At the Adult Living Healthy Fair in October, the BC Lung Association had a booth as well. In January there was an information booth at the Pharmasave Drugstore with material relevant to quitting smoking. The BC Lung Association funds a bursary to Selkirk College for a student entering the field of respiratory care and provides support to people with lung health issues.
Health education materials, such as non-smoking information, are provided by the BC Lung Association and made available to the health units, Boundary Hospital, Mental Health and Addiction Centre and Boundary Women’s Centre.
Of benefit to those attempting to quit smoking is the online program, quitnow.ca and the toll free number 1-877-455-2233. Both services are free of charge and are available 24/7.
There is an abundance of material about lung-related diseases and information on environmental concerns such as open burning, wood burning stoves and health and air quality and radon gas. The DVD Making A Difference-Air Quality and Your Health is in the libraries throughout the Boundary and has been distributed to the schools of School District 51.
The publicity for the campaign involves distributing placemats, bookmarks and Christmas Seals throughout the area. A banner is hanging across Highway 3 in the downtown area of Grand Forks and the Christmas Seal flag will be hoisted from the flagpole on top of the Grand Forks City Hall.
A large portion of the money raised in the Christmas Seal campaign goes toward research into all lung-related illnesses.
The Grand Forks-Boundary area of the BC Lung Association includes Christina Lake, Grand Forks, Greenwood, Midway, Rock Creek, Bridesville, Beaverdell, Westbridge and Big White.
For more information on lung-related matters and the BC Lung Association contact Michele Caskey at 250-442-3055 or 1-800-665-LUNG (5864).
Donations may be mailed to The BC Lung Association, Box 34009, Stn D., Vancouver, B.C. V6J 4M2.
Please remember to use Christmas Seals on all your holiday mail!
– Submitted by Michele Caskey