Editor:
As Valentine’s Day approaches, our thoughts turn to those in our lives whom we love, perhaps someone who has been impacted by heart disease or stroke.
Every seven minutes someone dies from heart disease or stroke in Canada.
During February, volunteers will be canvassing amongst family and friends and in some areas door to door to raise money for the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Donations will be used to invest in life-saving heart disease and stroke research that saves lives, fund the development of life-saving treatments and programs that prevent disease and restore survivors’ quality of life and the placement of life-saving automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in communities across Canada to increase someone’s chance of surviving cardiac arrest.
Programs include HeartSmart Kids and Sip Smart! B.C. curriculum-based programs, which provide educators with the tools and resources to encourage children and their families to make heart-healthy lifestyle choices and to teach children how to make healthy drink choices and limit their intake of sugar-sweetened beverages. Hearts in Motion Walking Club is a simple and fun program that encourages participants to engage in regular physical activity, socialize and improve their health. Living with Stroke is a brand new eight-week program designed to help stroke survivors and their families, offering participants the assistance and resources needed to succeed during recovery.
Together we can improve the health of Canadians. You can create more survivors by making a donation. Please give generously this Heart Month.
For more information see: www.heartandstroke.ca/give
Kathryn Harrison, Gibsons
