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Christmas Seals campaign under way

The B.C. Lung Association is active in a variety of events and programs throughout the province and most definitely in the Boundary.
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Mayor Frank Konrad

By Michele Caskey

The Christmas Seal Campaign began over 100 years ago to fight Tuberculosis (TB).

This is the B.C. Lung Association’s biggest fundraiser for the year. Already residents in the Grand Forks-Boundary area have received in the mail the Christmas Seal appeal letter. This has been delivered to known contributors and householders have been delivered to attract new donors.

The B.C. Lung Association is active in a variety of events and programs throughout the province and most definitely in the Boundary.

The lung association maintains a strong presence at the Rock Creek and Boundary Fall Fair in September. Throughout the year, volunteer director Michele Caskey sits on the Grand Forks Environment Committee. On Clean Air Day, the first week in June, the B.C. Lung Association manned a booth at Overwaitea and gave out relevant material on Clean Air and free cake.

The Grade 4 class at Hutton Elementary School constructed kites with material provided by the B.C. Lung Association. A short presentation and discussion took place about the environment.

In the spring, Caskey participated in an international conference on lungs and heart in Vancouver.

Health education materials such as non-smoking information are provided by the B.C Lung Association and made available to the health units, Boundary Hospital, Mental Health and Addiction Centre, Boundary Women’s Centre and to the schools and businesses in School District 51.

Of benefit to those attempting to quit smoking is the online program quitnow.ca; the toll-free number is 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, health and air quality, and radon gas.

The publicity for the campaign involves distributing placemats, bookmarks and Christmas Seals throughout the area. A banner has been 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 B.C. 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 B.C. Lung Association, contact Caskey at 250-442-3055 or the lung association at 1-800-665-LUNG (5864).

Donations may be mailed to B.C. Lung Association, Box 34009, Stn D., Vancouver, B.C. V6J 4M2.

Please remember to use Christmas Seals on all your holiday mail!