The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Region throws support beltmtl Community Care Access Cen'ltre he Region of Waterloo has I thrown its support behind the local branch of the Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) in its plight to receive addi- tiottal provincial funding to help keep home support and nursing services at a healthy standard. Following a presentation made last week by CCAC executive direc- tor Kevin Mercer, who described the massive cutbacks in service resulting from a $12imillion funding shortfall, the community services committee at the region agreed to write a letter to' the Ministry of Health and longterm Care, requesting adequate funding for the organization. hue-151nm“ looking For a "an kto, Kao, Kan. This chant is sure to be heard loud and proud at Morty's Pub in Waterloo Saturday night when Kan Saechao faces what may be the toughest challenge of his life - seeing how many chicken wings he can eat in half an hour. “It'll be me stuffing my belly for half an hour," the lover of the deep fry said with a grin, "It'll be a great show." But the goal of the event, set to begin at 8 p.m., is not only to provide an enter- taining side show, featuring Saechao sweating over tray after tray of hot and spicy The purpose of the chal- lenge is to help the former University of Waterloo stu- dent raise over $4.000 to cover costs for his upcom- ing trip to Costa Rica through Youth Challenge International, a program dedicated to building skills, experience and confidence in young people and com- munities which will encourage positive social UW grad chomps chickén wings to raise funds for Costa Rican excursion "Based" on the presentation that (MI-n) i -- nrlmmwua- 5170.2an FACTORY SHOWROOM [ 21 Allen St. W. 585-1000 Fo'r " a guess, pub cus- Mon Nted 95, Thurs tk Fri, 9-6, Sat, 104 Br Mom BAILEY _C1reeit Sragr whom Bum grenade Staff [HM (ii mm Fine Home Furnis ' lil IBiiitlil in Uptown Waterloo .eb,gt'-l,e,'as"sr"saudi "We're more than just tables and Chkirs!” tomers and event enthusiasts can bet on how many wings Saechao can pack away in 30 minutes. Those who guess correctly will be eli- gible to win prizes. All of the money raised will help cover project costs for the program, as well as Saechao's medical insurance. incountry trans- portation, food and accommodation while in Costa Rica. "I heard about it (program) through my school newspa- per," he explained. "Then I worked with a guy who did it, and he said itwas the greatest experi- ence of his life. The work you do is very rewarding and you come out with a better understand- ing of developing countries and their struggles" Egg]; 3:; Jl'le, da, University of Waterloo graduate Kao Saediao (right) will pack away ing of developing chirkeneitytsforha!farthey.rsaturd.ay night at Mortr's Pub. owned by tries and their lay Taylor (left). Saedwo will be chewing on diicken to raise funds for a gaggle; " trip to Costa Rica through Youth Challenge international. mun-um Saechao, who grew up in involves applying and being Rica, More Saechao will ca Waterloo and attended selected for the program. help local villagers improve it's Bluevale collegiate insti. The second part involves community life through tute, explained the 12- fundraising. projects that increase M month program is made up The third stage is the access to primary health re of four parts. The first phase actual work done in Costa care and education, J0 was given, the shortage of services is putting a lot of local residents in risk situations," said Waterloo regional Conn. Sean Strickland, chair'of the community services committee. The funding shortfall has been directly linked to health-care restructuring, which reduces a patient's stay in the hospital. forc- ing them to spend most of the recovery process at home. Without sumcient financial resources available, the CCAC has reluctantly scaled back its coordi- nation of home-cam services, and put clients on waiting lists to avoid running a deficit. The first phase of cutbacks took effect June I when home-making services were rationed. forcing over 50 clients to be placed on a waiting list, Finger lickin' good o Lvingroom Suites . Bedroom Suites . Kitchen & Dining . Chairs . Office Furniture . Lamps . Bar a Kitchen Counter Stools 0 Home Accents . PAGE 3 These changes are guaranteed home support. That included coor- to be felt regionwide. considering dinning 250,000 nursing visits and that last year alone the organizer providing mmethan775,000 hours _ of .ptrsonal support and home- "TTU, malitu is now we makingstruces, “A - _ . tion helped over 17,000 individuals and their families by providing "The reality is now we are managing to a limited amount of resources, rather than to client need. We know that by reducing home-care services, we are putting people at risk." - Kevin Mercer CCIC executive dimmer According to the CCAC, without assistance more cutbacks could be on the way as soon as August, which could see a reduction in the number of nursing visits allowed to a patient in a given day. 'muyreality is now we are man- aging to a limited amount of resources. rather than to client need," Mercer explained. "We know that by reducing home-care services, we are putting people at "Right now, more than 7,000 clients a day are receiving (home- care) servicing. That's up from 5,300 just one year ago. That shows right there the growth and demand If that. has aiming for m 50, but my friends are driving it that if I can't make it over loo, then it's not much of a show." lay Taylor, owner of Mony's Pub, said the "ystaurant's current xenon! for most wings eaten in one strengthen ec0nom- sitting is 67, a figure he ic activity, sustain hopesSaechaocanbeat. the local natural "We'll be bringing them environment and out in increments of 25," buildthecapacity of Taylor said. “We'll keep local organizations making them as longes he to plan and imple- keeps eating them. ment development "Even if it takes him initiatives. And the more than half an hour, I fourth and final really hope he beats 67." stage demands that Taylor. who is donating up to 100 hours of all of the chicken wings volunteer work must Saechao eats, described the be completed in the event as a great cause, and participant's home Saechao as "an admirable community. youngguy”. "I've been look- ing to get more vol- unteer experience for a while," Saechao said. "I find it very self-: But, Saechao admitted, there is also a personal agenda behind his good deed. "My record is 86 wingsinone sitting? he said. "I'd like to lmu ' umwumwnguu woman - - (Eli-“MM- 1mshhtgreratkt. we am facing with the bag" boom population gain; _ . . . "But until certain decisions are made, we will continue to have clients on waiting lists that should- n't be there. They are eligible for service." Strickland said solving the CCAC's financial dilemma will involve looking at a regionally inte- grated health-care system, with the region's three hospitals, the com- munity health department, (he CCAC and longterm care facilities Working together to meet patien,t “We have to move forward and look at ways to better plan and coordinate, and to minimize the gaps in service to our residents,” he said. "Things have to come togeth- er soahat we can break down the silos of health care." Taylor. who is donating all of the chicken wings Saechao eats, described the event as a great cause, and Saechao as "an admirable you»; wr1 . . me's trying to make the world a better place, and I think our children can ben- etit from seeing someone young doing something like this." Taylor said. _ Othe} event sponsors include Molson Canada andCoca-Cola. Saechao won't chicken out of the tough guy challenge by eating weak flavours, like honey garlic or mild. some mild,” he said, "People want to see me But the best part of the night may come after the last wing is devoured. 'Tm looking forward to letting the wings settle over a few beers," Saechao said. "iii-eat some hot and