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8 - The Canadien Champion, Tuesday, February 2, 1999 * Cbanw(on Foundation preparing for biggest challenge yet By KAREN SMITH The Champion. The Milton District Hospital Foundation is already gearing up to help accommodate local health care needs in the new millennium. Being launched by the 12-member board of directors is a cam- paign that features the volunteer organization's traditional fundraising events, coupled with a stepped-up focus on gaining more corporate donations, said Foundation co-ordinator Donna McLaughlin. "This will be our biggest challenge to date so far,' she said, estimating that about $4 million is the figure for which they will be striving. The Foundation has heen told by Halton Flealthcare Services (HHS) - made up of the recently-amalgamated Milton District and Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial hospitals - that its fundraising efforts will be integral in meeting the medical nceds of Milton's projected population beyond 2000). Major renovations and new equipment will be required to serve a large number of aging citizens and an estimated population increase of 115 per cent by 2016. But with new citizens to help out and Multon's consistent histo- ry of generosity, Ms McLaughlin said she doesn't see the request as too much to, ask. "We do very well with individual donations. This town just ral- lies with support for ils hospital." However, she doesn't mean fulfîlling the task will be a piece of cake. It will come with some brainstorming and creativity, she stressed. "We're going to have to come up with bigger and better ideas." TMe organization will carry on with its usual Hike for Health (May 30), Blazing Saddles (August 13) and Buy a Bulb (Christmas) fuandraising events, but a special committee has been set up to chase down corporate donations. The Foundation will also continue 10 seek support by encourag- Members of the Milton District Hospital Foundation's board of directors have their work eut out for them afler recently Iearning that the organization wiII be integral In helping the facility expand ta accommodate future growth. The board includes top Ieft ta right) Joan Griffiths, Tom Logie, Mary Devlin, Brian Johnston, Carol Wilson, Hania Ornstein, Jan Carson, <bottom lefI ta right) Lana Burchett, Bob Pyatt, Heather Penman and Betty Ingle. ing people 10 make bequests 10 the hospital or designate donations 10 help build a new wing that more than doubled the size of the through their life insurance policie;, Ms McLaughlin said. hospital. Overaîl, the organization has dnimmed up $2.5 million, Promoîing the Foundation, which annually raises an average of wîth most of the money going to fund new medical equipment. about $300,000, will be another goal of the emerging fundraising The Foundation's board of directors, led by president Heather blitz. "There are a lot of people in this community that don't Penman, is waiting for further information from HHS 10 nail know we're here." 'down specifie dollar figures and a fundraising timetable for the Major fundraising campaigna aren't new 10 the Foundation, campaign. which, fonined in 1980, is approaching ils 201h anniversary. In the To make a donation or volunteer with the organization, contact mid-1980s, the Foundation raised $1 million in under 12 months Ms McLaughlin at 878-2383. Halton moves to burn out tobacco once andfor al By IRENE GENTLE The Champion Approximately 329,000 Canadians 15 and over started smoking between 1994-97, accord- ing 10 a Statisties Canada report. As well, about 618,000 Canadians who had kicked the habit started again during that lime. Now the Halton Regional Health Department (HRHD) bas started something themscîves - an information campaign on just saying no t0 sec- ondhand smoke for kids. Radio advertisements, print ads, posters, fact sheets and newsletters are ail on the way as part of Halton'a effort 10 make smoking lesa of a buming issue. Starting with the slogan 'It's not enough to open a window, it's better 10 leave the room, beat 10 go oulside,' the Halton Council on Smoking and Health, of which the HRHD is a member, is hoping 10 cul through the haze sur- rounding the effecîs of secondhand smoke on children. "It's very dangerous. It leads to increased asth- ma, chronie ear infections, inereased incidence of pneumonia and bronchitis," explained the HRHD's Tanya Kuinies. "Or il can just be as simple as coughing more oflen." Parents or caregivers may not realize what their habit is doing to children, said Ms Kulnies, who worked with the Lung Association belore settling in aI the HRHD. "No one tries 10 hurt their children o n pur- pose," she said. "But people didn't understand tbis before." According 10 Ms Kuinies, rougbly 27 per ent of the population stîll amokes. Stats Can bas the figure sligbtly higher, aI about 29 per cent. The damage is devastating. Approximately 12,000 Onlanians a year die from tobacco-related Ill- 10s a CieoMdical nesse accodingl Officers of Healtb report issued lwo years ago. Tbat's about one in every six deatbs in the province, or four limes the deatb toîl of AIDS, motor vebicle collisions, homicides and suicides combined. According 10 the lateat National Population Health Survey, a study conducted every two years 10 gel a snapsbol of bealth bebaviours of Canadians, thé vast majority of new smokers are young. A full 70 per cent of new smokers in the 1994- 97 period were between the age of 15 and 25. "The whole baIlle with tobacco is going 10 be won or bast witb the youtb," said Halton Region's medical officer of bealth, Dr. Bob Nosal. The idea is that moat smokers first light up while in their teens. Stop tbem fromt smoking then, you've probably stopped tbem from smok- ing forever, said Dr. Nosal. "Virtually every aduil you speak t0 has said they wish tbey didn't smoke," noted Dr. Nosal. "Really, iî's an adolescent bebaviour." Naysayers have only 10 look a1 Califomia 10 be convinced Ibat education campaigns can work, he said. In that state, wbicb also boasta extremely strin- gent anti-smoking bylaws for bars, restaurants and workplaces, $4 per capita is spent on tobse- Ssee SMOKE-FREE on page 9 2 V", Suý Feb. 14 87 Lautier Ave., 878-2881 ... y wýW Q«Wff 'w