north shore news

MAIL BOX lumnist’s views

Dear Editor:

1am writing in response to Hana Mercer's column of April 2. My issue is with her irre- sponsible depiction of syndromes such as fibromyalgia (FM), as being mere fads, gar- nered by opportunistic individuals to opt out of social responsibilities and become leeches upon their families and society. Comments such as “everyone suffers from aches and pains,” only serve to demonstrate the author’s total ignorance of the complexity and numer- ous symptoms experienced by people with FM and associated syndromes such as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), also know as Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome. As well as disabling pain and fatigue, afilicted indi- viduals may also sutter from cognitive dysfunc- tion including memory disturbance, calcula- tion difficulties and special disorientation, as well as recurrent flu-like illness, painful lymph nodes, irritable bowel syndrome, headaches and insomnia to name only a few. Research has shown that these symptoms are physical and not psychological in origin. The Atlanta based Centres for Disease Control and the National Institute of Health have accepted ME as a physical condition. In the recent ruling in

iness are sick

Alberta, April 98, Sharon Baillie vs. Crown Life Insurance, the judge’s decision was unambigu- ous in ruling that ME is an organic illness.

FM and ME have resulted in untold suffer- ing for thousands of individuals. To insinuate that many highly successful people, including doctors, lawyers, nurses and teachers, have willingly chosen to lose their careers, family and friends and to live in poverty is ludicrous.

In the past, conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS) were also widely believed by society and the medical profession to be “all in the head” and patients were admitted to psy- chiatric institutions. Due to research MS is now an accepted and recognized organic dis- ease. With continued research, the cause, and God willing, a cure for FM and ME will also be found.

Your biased and unfounded accusations of FM sufferers being nothing more than social mistits free-loading on society are undeserved and show your obvious lack of knowledge regarding theses conditions. Quit adding to the misery of these victims and be a responsible columnist. Drop your research.

D. Jaksitz North Vancouver

Let the speed signs work

Dear Editor:

Re: May 14 News story (Dad fights school zone specders).

David Peake has my support. Perhaps Norm _Nikkel, our dis- trict’s manager of transportation operatons, should use some common sense. While the signs themselves may contravene Section 606 of the street and traf fic bylaw, they are accurate and more visible than the small signs the district has posted.

Not too long, ago adjacent to Lynn Valley school on Mountain Highway, the van with the large digital display showing your

d was parked for a couple of

others have as well because I have noticed a huge difference. Peaple are remembering. Cars are slow- ing down.

We're all in a hurry today. We may net notice or think the wav we should. A large sign such as the one pictured on page 3,

. Friday, May 14, is a reminvier, a trigger. Put your rules cn hold Norm Nikkel. Exceptions can be made, Individuals have to take it upon themselves to fielp and make change.

Regarding “Teens face sen- tencing for assault,” on page 4, Friday, May 14, T was under- standably angry when I finished

the article. The ringleader was sencenced to a year in open cus- tudy. Perhaps soincone more learned could explain this term “open custody.” Consequences are the answer.

Tam sick and tired of the slap on the wrist ractics of the Young Offenders Act. Put him and the rest of the cowardly punks to work, digging ditches, creating tails, breaking rocks. Anything.

Just punish them. Punish the individual who did the wrong and the best punishment for today’s youth is hard work. Brian Dombroski North Vancouver

ys. It was very visible. I took notice and realized I was over the limit. It’s’ apparent that many

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Wednesday, May 26, 1999 — North Shore News - 9

ted white, m.p. aver May 261399 PROSTATE CANCER AWARENESS

Almost a year has passed since | wrote a report about the planning which was underway for Canada's first ever Father's Day Walk and Run for Prostate Cancer Research. That event took place on June 21st, 1998 in Victoria and raised almost $60,000 through sponsorships and donations. This Father's Day though, June 20th, there will be walks and runs held in Victoria, Vancouver, Ottawa, and Toronto. Public awareness of the dis-

ease is significantly higher than it was -

& year ago, sponsorship for the events has become a lot easier to arrange, the amount of money being pledged fs growing, and for the first time. well- known and prominent Canadians like Allan Fotheringham are starting to lend their support to the cause.

As | mentioned in my report for June 10, 1998, my interest in prostate cancer

| research and diagnosis goes back about a

decade, not because of personal experi- ence with the disease, but because of a debate with former NDP MLA David Schreck about funding for the PSA blood test for prostate cancer. Then, shortly

| before the end of my first term as your MP

| came across an opportunity to work with prostate cancer support groups in the West to try to raise awareness amongst legislators about the need for more resaarch funding. At that time, few people

} knew that prostate cancer occurs at about

the same frequency in men as breast can-

j cer occurs in women, yet was receiving

just a fraction of the research funding. | decided to do my best to help get the fund- ing for prostate cancer research increased, not at the expense of oreast

‘ cancer research funding, but in addition to sit.

THE FATHER'S DAY RUN

Although | think of myself as no more important than any one of my consiituents, it is a fact of life that having the letters MP after my name helps open doors that would otherwise be difficult to open. It was because of this ability to get through to the decision-makers that | was able to find a Vice-President with the CIBC who was willing to place that bank in a sponsorship role for the Victoria run last year. Thanks to the success of that event, the CIBC is also on board for the Vancouver Walk/Run

f this year.

In addition to the CIBC, a number of other companies are supporting the Vancouver event with cash donations, food, anu other necessary materials. They include the David Oppenheimer Group. BC Hothouse, Abbott Laboratories, Canadian Springs and IGA. Northwest Airlines is providing the top individual fund-raiser prize, and IGA is sponsoring a Pancake breakfast. Media sponsors include Global TV, CKNW98, and the North Shore News.

A great deal of work has gone into organizing the Vancouver Walk/Run and | would like to urge you to participate, either by sponsoring someone else, or by walk- ing, stroiling, or running in the event your- self. Mark the date on your calendar, Father's Day, June 20th, beginning at

| 9.00 am at Burnaby Lake Park, just off f the freeway. You can join me on an easy

and level walk of 3km. or you can take part in an 8km run around the lake itself. Either way, this very pretty park setting is ideal for a family get together on Father's (or Grandfather's) Day, made even better with a hearty breakfast of fruit and pancakes (and possibly a chance to meet Fotheringham) when you finish.

There is an entry form for the | event on Page 36 of this edition of the North Shore News, while brochures and more detailed information can be obtained by calling the Run Hotline at 983-4262 (Whitewater Communications). If you would like to be a sponsor for my walk, (or for Sue, because she will be there too), please make your cheque out to The British Columbia Foundation for Prostate Disease. You can also | pledge by Mastercard or Visa by calling my office. Tax receipts will be issued for all pledges over $20.00.

AND THERE'S MORE

in March of 1998, thanks to the gen- erosity of Abbott Diagnostics, | was able to arrange a day of awareness and PSA blood tests for prostate cancer for MPs in Ottawa . Approximately 80 MPs had their j blood tests that day, 3 of whom were found to have high PSA levels requiring further investigation by their doctors. Consistent with the aims of the prostate cancer awareness campaign, the message deliv- ered that day was the need to have the cost of PSA tests covered as part of regu- lar medical cneckups for men over 50 years of age, and for men over 40 years of age in the case of a family history of the disease.

Encouraged by the success of the event on Parliament Hill, | approached the CIBC, MDS Metro Laboratories, and Abbott Diagnostics, with the idea ofa PSA | testing, and prostate cancer awareness day, for men working in the downtown Vancouver area. In March of this year an agreement was reached to go ahead with the plan on Friday June 25th. The CIBC will provide space for the event in their downtown office building. MDS Metro will | be supplying the necessary staff and equipment, and Abbott Diagnostics is pro- viding the PSA tests. if you know a man | who works in the downtown Vancouver area, particularly if he is over 50 years of age, please suggest that he marks the day on his calendar and that he visit the CIBC building for a PSA test and information about prostate cancer.

MAKING PROGRESS.

While there can be no doubt that being an MP is extremeiy frustrating when it comes to trying to make a difference in Ottawa, it has been both gratifying and productive to work with the volunteers in our loca! prostate cancer support groups as they have tumed the ideas for these events into reality. Their dedication has brought us to the point where major donors are starting to come forward, espe- | cially here in the Vancouver area.

If you would like more information about prostate cancer, cail ihe North Shore Prostate Cancer Support Group at 929-5183. Information about other types of cancer is available on 1-888-939-3333.

‘Ted White, M.P. ; #302-1200 Lynn Valley Road, North Vancouver, B.C... V7J 2A2-": Tel: 666-0585 Fax: 656-0509, Internet: http://www.reform.ca/white-t/

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984-9324