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Christmas Seals campaign begins again

The Christmas Seals campaign raises money against tuberculosis.
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The Christmas Seals campaign is starting up. Here Marge Bekker

Tuberculosis (TB) was the number one killer in British Columbia at the turn of the last century.

In response to the rapid spread of TB, also known as the “white plague,” the Anti-Tuberculosis Society was formed in 1906.

The next few years saw several name changes for the society. In 1964, the British Columbia Christmas Seal Society was formed and finally in 1978 it became the BC Lung Association.

The BC Lung Association has extended its efforts and programs to include the entire scope of respiratory disease. The Christmas Seal Campaign is the major fundraiser for the BC Lung Association for the year and 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.

The BC Lung Association has a strong presence at the local fall fairs and has had representation on the Environmental Committee as well as the Boundary Air Quality Committee. Lung health education materials are distributed throughout the Boundary Area and 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 its 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 there is information on environmental concerns, such as open burning, wood burning stoves and health and air quality. 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 the Boundary School District.

The publicity for the campaign involves distributing placemats, bookmarks and Christmas Seals throughout the area. A banner will be strung 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 at 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