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lft2j n if srv24 i xaf 4 jlj1 economist suntribune r volunteers saturday may 26 2001 c run s promise to by patrick mangion staff writer they say there is asilver lining in every cloud for aurora resi dent jane waites the loss of a close friend inspired her to help others waites friend chris bell passed away two years ago from als or lou- gehrigs disease a rare degenerative nerve disorder causing a loss of muscle control his bravery his zest for life i was so impressed by him it motivated me to start this process waites said i thought if hes in this situa- tion there must be others people ask me isnt it depressing but i feel so proud to be part of their lives clients living with alsits a very- positive experience staff photosteve 50merville jane waites and a team of volunteer dental hygienists run a clinic that helps patients with lou gehrigs disease care for their teeth here waites helps barry sproule of richmond hill waites a dental hygienist for v the past 17 years said people liv- 1 ing with als are at higher risk of contracting bacterial pneumo- nia so she created a dental hygiene outreach program keeping a promise she made to bell waites said the volunteerrun clinic is a health necessity since the als society has never dealt with oral hygiene for peo ple living with the disease it wasnt getting done with out the clinics waites explained waites was excited to learn last week that the dental out- reach program she started won the canadian colgate community health award a national award handed out annually for causes which pro- mote health in the community besides recognizing the efforts of hygienists involved in the program waites said the award will encourage more funding for supplies andhelp assure the longevity of the pro gram v waites relies on 11 hygienists from the york region dental hygienists society who volun teer their time to do housecalls for als sufferers throughout the greater toronto area including york region the outreach program cur rently has seyen clients while waites said that num ber may seem insignificant she will continue as long as the need exists our volunteers are finding theyre getting more out of it than theyre putting in waites said people ask me isnt it depressing but i feel so proud to be part of their lives clients living with als its a very posi tive experience it reminds waites of a time with her late friend he could only blink respons es so he wrote a note on the com puter saying the outreach pro- gram meant so much to him that i followed through on a promise and it just meant so much waites was also presented with the community service award by the ontario dental hygienists association recently legion disttlci school ioaib about mingualism for aur ra4e dne child rofeducationo chair of the board william benc public school presents funfair 2001 bbq1 hot colp tea tent bake sale chine5e cuisine book swap arts crafts table games raffle jumping castle prizes face paining nail decorating tatoos hair spiking an exciting day of fun- for the whole family satmay26 1200 noon- 300 fm 120 carlton road unionwille uoln ueforourreribmed llpsyriccoiti conyour i rain or shine mmediexgreat time d i