TLA

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1 TLA Monthly Update Dec. 1-31, 2013 Circulation 1.2 Million TAPPED OUT? Jenna McMurray The Calgary Sun Monday, December 23, Tough times faced by many southern Albertans this year may have contributed to the struggle of at least two organizations to meet Christmas goals. The Lung Association, Alberta & NWT (TLA) is still hoping for a last-minute rush of support to this year s Christmas Seals campaign, which is the group s principle source of funding. The goal was to raise $650,000 and so far about $460,000 has been donated, said spokesman Jeff Cummings. This is the furthest gap we ve seen, said Cummings, adding the campaign officially runs until Dec. 31. He, too, said he believes the flood, along with other charitable causes such as aid to the Philippines following Typhoon Haiyan probably made it more difficult for some people to give to Christmas campaigns. It s been a pretty dire year, he said. Those are important (causes). Still, Cummings is hoping for a late surge of support for TLA. which helps people suffering from lung illnesses and their families and well as advocate for public policy changes and support research. Every little bit helps, he said. Christmas Seals Advertisement TLA Fort McMurray Wednesday December 4, Saturday, December 21, 2013 Breathing Matters! Give Generously! Christmas Seals still short of its 2013 fundraising goal The Banff Crag and Canyon Wednesday, December 18, With two weeks left to go in this year s Christmas Seals campaign, The Lung Association, Alberta & NWT ( TLA ) is roughly $200,000 short of its fundraising goal. The annual campaign got underway in early November as more than 90,000 Alberta households and those in the Northwest Territories received the colourful stamps in the mail. Close to $450,000 has been raised so far but it s still well short of the campaign s 2013 fundraising goal of $650,000. Since 1939, Christmas Seals have been TLA s principal source of funding. We rely heavily on funds raised through Christmas Seals every year as it helps us pay for vital research into better prevention, treatment, and cures for lung diseases, said Leigh Allard, TLA s president and CEO.

2 Christmas Seals campaign still short of goal Radio Stephanie Mayne 660 News Calgary Tuesday, December 17, With only 2 weeks left, the Christmas Seals campaign is looking for your help. Every November, The Lung Association sends out its colourful Christmas Seals Stamps to its supporters throughout Alberta and the Northwest Territories. So far, the campaign has brought in $450,000, which is $200,000 short of their 2013 fundraising goal of $650,000. The Christmas Seals campaign has been the Lung Association s primary fundraiser for the past 74 years. The Lung Association helps out patients who are suffering from lung illnesses that include lung cancer, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and sleep apnea. --- Charities push for holiday donations Robert Mallett The Edmonton Journal Tuesday, December 17, With Christmas fast approaching, Edmontonians are being asked by local charities to continue to display their trademark generosity. The Lung Association of Alberta and Northwest Territories said Monday it is about $200,000 short of its $650,000 fundraising goal for this year. Since 1939, Christmas Seals have been The Lung Association s principal source of funding, the organization said in a news release. -- New app for air quality available for Hintonites Martin Wissmath The Hinton Parkland Friday, December 13, Hinton residents can now use their smartphones to check local air quality with a handy new app. Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development announced a new downloadable app for smartphones Dec. 3. Available for ios and Android phones, the app will allow users to see information from the Air Quality Health Index, which measures for pollutants and gives a reading from 1 to 10 based on lowest to highest risk to respiratory health. The app is also "coming soon" for Blackberry, according to the ESRD press release. "The average person takes about 20,000 breaths a day which is about 10,000 litres of air passing through your lungs every 24 hours," stated Dr. James Talbot, Alberta's chief medical officer of health. "This app makes it easier for Albertans to learn what the air quality around them means for their health and helps them access information they can use to limit exposure to air pollution if the air quality is poor." - Easy way to check air quality Feature Shawna Randolph

3 Alberta Prime Time Thursday, December 12, It s incredibly easy for anyone with a newer phone to check the weather, and now there s an app that will allow you to check the air quality in the same way that you might check to see how cold it is. The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is a tool available for Albertans to learn what the air quality around various Alberta communities means to individual health. The AQHI provides a number from 1-10 to indicate the level of health risk associated with local air quality. The higher the AQHI number, the greater the health risk and need to take precautions. The AQHI app provides hourly updated AQHI and daily forecasts for more than 20 communities in Alberta. There's something in the soil Trevor Nichols Jasper Fitzhugh Wednesday, December 11, You ve probably never heard of it; you can t smell it or taste it or see it, but radon gas is in your house. In fact, radon is in just about every house, and most of the time it s harmless. But in high concentrations it can wreak havoc on the lungs, and some Jasper homes seem to be susceptible to high concentrations of the gas. While sub-slab depressurization usually fixes radon build up, Amy Elefson of the Lung Association of Alberta and Northwest Territories, explained that sometimes simple quick fixes, like plugging cracks in foundations and tightly sealing windows can fix less serious concentrations of the gas. Although Health Canada has known about radon for awhile, it s only recently realized just how significant the risks posed by the gas are on a person s health. - More Alta. organ donors needed Daniele Alcinii Sherwood Park News Monday, December 9, Breathing is something that most take for granted, but for 15-year-old Drew Husch, it s something he once longed for. Husch was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at the age of two, and by age nine his symptoms had taken a turn for the worse. His name was immediately placed on a list for double lung transplant surgery. My family and I waited for nine months until my doctors found a set of lungs that were the right fit for me, Husch, the 2013 Christmas Seals ambassador, said at a press conference held at Millennium Place on Friday, Dec. 6. There are many people who are still waiting for the right organ donation to save their life. This is why it s so important to commit yourself to organ donation when you renew your driver s licence next year. Money raised from this year s Christmas Seals campaign will help the Lung Association fund important research in finding cures for lung diseases, along with supporting families of patients who are suffering from lung illnesses that include cancer, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and sleep apnea. There s an air quality app for that Daniele Alcinii

4 Sherwood Park News Monday, December 09, In association with the Alberta Ministry of Environment, the Lung Association of Alberta and Northwest Territories has released a new air quality health index app available on Android and ios platforms. Coming soon to Blackberry in early 2014, the Alberta Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) app enables people to check the air quality health index on the go, reporting local air quality conditions and health messages in more than 20 communities across the province. While the air quality health index is available online, the smartphone app allows for immediate and forecast information of the AQHI for those who suffer with allergies, asthma, respiratory and other lung diseases, or those currently participating in outdoor activities Christmas Seals Ambassador Radio 660 News Calgary Monday, December 9, 2013 Interview with Drew Husch and his mother Young Christmas Seals ambassador urges Albertans to commit to organ donating News/Radio Adrienne Pan CBC TV News 5:30pm Friday, December 6, 2013 Drew Husch knows what it means to struggle for every breath. The 15-year-old Ardrossan resident received a life-saving double-lung transplant five years ago in Edmonton. He is now urging all Albertans to commit to donating their organs. This is a very important thing to do because there are lots of people who need transplants, said Drew The Lung Association s national 2013 Christmas Seals ambassador. Without it, I would not be able to play hockey, or have the life I enjoy today. Giving to Christmas Seals is an important way to help us support those who are suffering from lung related illnesses, said TLA Health Initiatives Director Janis Seville, a registered respiratory therapist. Life threatening lung diseases are on the rise in Alberta and the Northwest Territories. Already, one in five Albertans suffer from respiratory diseases Seals ambassador urges Albertans to commit to organ donating News Carrie Doll CTV Edmonton 6:45pm Friday, December 6, 2013 Drew Husch knows what it means to struggle for every breath. The 15-year-old Ardrossan resident received a life-saving double-lung transplant five years ago in Edmonton. He is now urging all Albertans to commit to donating their organs. This is a very important thing to do because there are lots of people who need transplants, said Drew The Lung Association s national 2013 Christmas Seals ambassador. Without it, I would not be able to play hockey, or have the life I enjoy today. Giving to Christmas Seals is an important way to help us support those who are suffering from lung related illnesses, said TLA

5 Health Initiatives Director Janis Seville, a registered respiratory therapist. Life threatening lung diseases are on the rise in Alberta and the Northwest Territories. Already, one in five Albertans suffer from respiratory diseases Christmas Seals Ambassador Urges Albertans to Commit to Organ Donating News Advertiser Monday December 9, Money donations raised to Christmas Seals will help support patients and their families who are battling lung diseases Drew Husch knows what it means to struggle for every breath. The 15-year-old Ardrossan, Alta. resident received a life-saving double-lung transplant five years ago in Edmonton. He is now urging all Albertans to commit to donating their organs. This is a very important thing to do because there are lots of people who need transplants, said Drew The Lung Association s national 2013 Christmas Seals ambassador. Without it, I would not be able to play hockey, or have the life I enjoy today. Drew and his family are urging Albertans to take advantage of new changes by their province s government that will make it easier for those who want to commit to donating their organs. The new legislation will allow Albertans to commit to donating their organs and tissues when renewing their driver s licences, or other pieces of identification. They will also be able to give their consent online. -- New provincial air quality app timely News CHAT TV Wednesday, December 4, 2013 A new mobile app to test local air quality conditions is being launched by Alberta Environment in conjunction with The Lung Association of Alberta and the Northwest Territories. The timing of the free smartphone app is quite appropriate as the air quality of the city and county is still under close watch due to the ongoing Westar Landfill fire. The app is called the Alberta AQHI (Air Quality Health Index). Program specialist with Environment and Health, Amy Elefson, says it allows Albertans to easily access immediate information and determine the level of health risk associated with local air quality. s that could not be found on-line but interviews were given: Red Deer Advocate Viking Times Medicine Hat News