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The Wingham Advance-Times, 1983-03-30, Page 44(Am.) wan marks 25th year with Seaforth ranch 1983 is an important year for the Seaforth Branch of the Canadian Cancer Society. It marks the group's 25th year. It'salso a landmark year for Margaret McCowan who has been secretary since the local branch was formed. "Simple," Mrs. McCowan replies when she's asked how she got involved. A registered nurse and a graduate of Hamilton General Hospital, she was working back in 1958 at Seaforth's old hospital, Scott Memorial. "Miss Drope (then the director of nursing and administrator) called me into her office and asked me how I'd like to be secretary of the Cancer Society." And she's continued all these years as a volunteer she says "because so many people in our family have died of cancer." "I do very little, but it's one more person working." Mrs. McCowan, who's known in the Seaforth area as a talented gardener, knitter and needlework artist, says the people she has met are what she values most about her volunteer work. "All the volunteers, from the top to the grassroots, are wonderful people. Most have been touched in some way by cancer." While meetings are still held in the local Cancer Society's room on the third floor of the post office, much else has changed about how the group operates over the last 25 years. There's more emphasis on education and prevention, Mrs. McCowan says, and on patient ser- vices. Branch members no longer make dressings; they are now bought com- mercially. - One thing that hasn't changed is the branch's fund raising job. A campaign has been run every April in Seaforth and over the years it's included daffodil teas, door-to-door canvassing, an information program through the mail and selling fresh cut daffodils. Marg McCowan remembers the first meeting of the local branch of the Cancer Society. The minute books tell her it was held on May 22. The founding president, John Talbot, was in the chair. Treasurer Robert W. Wright; first vice- president. J.L. Slattery; honorary president B.F. Christie; caknpaign chair- man Fred Willis who was mayor at the time; second vice Ina Scoins; and Betty McLean in charge of service to patients, joined Mrs. McCowan, then Marg Platt, on the executive. Others at that first meeting included Thehna Wright, Wilma Oke, Agnes Mason, Evelyn Wright and Marjorie Whyte. Others who were involved in the early days include Norm Scoins, Harold Whyte, Jim Doig and Alice McConnell. The late Mrs. McConnell was a long-time president of Margaret McCown is the education chairman for the Seaforth Branch of the Canadian Cancer Society. She is also serving as secretary for her 25th year in 1983. Other members of the Seaforth executive include Ina Scoins, president, Pat Troutbeck, treasurer and commemoration, Jud Walker, campaign chairman, Grace Titford, patient services and Harvey Dolmage, transportation. (Photo by Joanne Buchanan) the Seaforth Branch and was also president of the Huron Unit of the Cancer Society. Mrs. McCowan was secretary of the county unit for two years, The Huron Unit now operates an office, staffed five days a week by Marg Allan in ,Clinton --more evidence of how the society's role has changed. As well as serving the public, the office supplies brochures, tapes, films and other educational tools to the branches around the county. One of the highlights that stands out in Mrs. McCowan's mind after 25 years of continuous in- volvement with the Cancer Society is the time she and other area volunteers heard Eleanor Roosevelt, widow of the US president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, speak to a district meeting in Kit- chener. Mrs. Roosevelt, well-known as a humanitarian, had the same attitude towards public service as do long-time volunteers like Marg McCowan : `Kt's very little but it's one more person working." Children with cancer lining longer - - Children with cancer have a better chance of living a longer life today than ever before. Research advances, treatment by doctors, and parents alert to early symp- toms are making long-term control of cancer a reality. More than 75 percent of children who have cancer in the U.S. are being effectively treated, compared with less than 25 percent in 1971. Why There Is New Hope Research has discovered new drugs which are being used against. childhood cancers. At certain medical centers, these drugs have improved treatment results dramatically. Nineteen Comprehensive Cancer Centers across the -country now supply exten- sive information services to the local medical communi- ty and refer specialists to work with local physicians in planning treatment rehabilitation. What Everyone Should Know About Childhood Cancer Cancer is actually rare in children, though it is the chief cause of death by disease in children 3 to 14. Childhood cancers are dif- ferent from adult cancers. They tend to grow more quickly because body tissues are growing rapidly and the cancer grows right along with them, Children most often have cancers of the blood, bone, brain, nervous system and kidney. More than 60 percent of leukaemia cases in children, a cancer of the ,blood -forming tissues, are acute lymphocytic where current treatment is producing more successful results. For cancer in children, the five-year survival rate can range as high as 96 percent for thyroid cancer and 80 percent for eye tumors. What Parents Should Do Parents should see that 'a child has regular medical checkups during pre-school and school years, so that a physician is familiar with the development patterns of the child. Between checkups any abnormal signs or symp- toms for which there is no obvious cause should be in- vestigated. These include, for example, nausea, swell- ing, double vision, stumbl- ing, nosebleeds, drowsiness and listlessness. Children's cancers are often hard to recognize since, like cancers in adults, they may seem like trivial disorders and may not cause a specific complaint. Parents should have a healthy awareness of the possibility of cancer and know about the signs and symptoms of the main childhood cancers. Check Turn to page 13 • s three -fold • from page 11 health professionals. Available in many centres throughout Ontario. Dressings Available for patients at Doctor's request. Friendly Visiting and Activi- ty Program By- carefully chosen volunteers. Lodges and Clinics Are operated throughout Ontario by the Ontario Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation. Mastectomy Visiting Patient to patient support service by carefully selected and trained volunteer masteltomees, who visit -with the doctor's permission. Services available to Cancer Patients in NEED. Drugs Certain pain -relieving drugs may be paid for by the Cancer Society. Home Nursing and Housekeeping Up to 336 hours of Nursing Care, and 224 hours of Housekeeping may be pro- vided for patients in finan- cial need, who are remaining at home. Ostomy Supplies, Sup- plementary Diets and other needs may be supplied to pa- tients in financial need. Transportation Transportation by volunteer driver or public conveyance for cancer pa- tients who have no other means of travelling toand from treatment centres in Ontario. FUND RAISING In April of each year the Cancer Society appeals to the public for funds to carry out its work. Campaign costs are kept to a minimum through the efforts of over 140,000 volunteers across the province. During the one month Campaign, a canvass of residential, business and industry sectors is carried out as well as unique special events such as Daffodil Day and the Ladies' Great Ride for Cancer. The Canadian Cancer Society is not a participating member of united appeals, because its financial re- quirements for Research, Education and Service to Pa- tients are increasing too rapidly to be met by a com- bined local appeal. Cam- paign also provides an op- portunity for added em- phasis on the education pro- gram of the Society. CANCER RESEARCH Over half of the funds rais- ed by the Cancer Society are used for direct support of research into the cause and cure of cancer. Ninety-five percent of the funds spent by the National Cancer In- stitute of Canada are provid- ed by the Canadian Cancer Society. The Ontario Divi- sion of the Cancer Society also assists the Ontario Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation in its clinic extension program through an annual grant. Door-to-door campaign for funds planned For the second year in a row, the Seaforth Branch of the Canadian Cancer Society plans a door-to-door cam- paign for funds in Seafortfi, Egmondville and Har- purhey. Judd Walker is campaign chairman. Captains in each area ( who pick their own can- vassers) are: Harpurhey- John Talbot; Egmondville- Nancy Turnbull and Fran Hook , north -east -Larry Plumsteel; northwest -Ted Cosford; southeast -Alice Reid and southwest -Harry Verburg. Will sell daffodils After an overwhelming success last year, the Seaforth Branch of the Canadian Cancer Society plans to sell daffodils on Seaforth's Main Street again this spring. It will be a one day effort, with CGIT members from First Presbyterian Church doing the selling. When the 400 daffodils arrive in Seaforth, they'll be stored in Roth's Food Market cooler. Then Saturday morning, April 2, the flowers will be available from the CGIT at 10 for $3 or 20 for $5: Did you know? Of all the Canadians who are diagnosed as having cancer during 1982, 50 per cent will be alive and con- sidered well in 1987. That's a whole lot better than it used to be. There Is An Answer to Cancer...And You Are Helping Us Find It. This information is brought to you with the kind co-operation of the following: STEEL PRODUCTS INC. 85 NEWGATE STREET GODERICH, ONTARIO 524-8363 WCTfON YNE ROLD TH LIMITED Located on Birch Street in Seaforth PHONE: 527-1079 FRANKKKLlNG LTD. General Electric Dealer.For Over 40 Years 527-1320 Seaforth N hi' Tun on � . (expositor Phone 527-0240 Seoforth, Ont. 51115 HOME HARDWARE Quality Goods with QualityService 527-1620 69 Main St. Seaforth coomicaoc Milton J. Dietz Limited Phone 519-527-0608, Seaforth