News page

 

 

2010 Hike for Huntington's     13th Annual 3K/5K Hike! Join the BC Chapter of the Huntington Society of Canada at the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve for a day of hiking along beautiful trails and fun family entertainment and activities! Join as an individual or in a team and enjoy a fun day while raising funds for local families. Choose your preferred distance with both 3K and 5K hikes offered. Enjoy the scenery and meet others from the HD community, all while walking for a good cause! All proceeds will go directly to vital programs in research, for a cure for tomorrow, and family services for people coping with HD today. Event Details Sunday, September 26, 2010 8:30am-Registration 9:15am -Entertainment and warm up 10:00am- Ready, Set, Hike! 11:00- Family Day BBQ & Fun Activities! 12:00pm- Awards and Prize Draw!  Rice Lake Loop Trail, Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve 4400 Lillooet Road North Vancouver, BC Directions: take exit 22 off Highway 1 in North Vancouver. You will find the LSCR entrance approximately 2km north of Capilano College on Lillooet Road. For more information go to www.gvrd.bc.ca For more information please contact Colleen Edwards at the BC Chapter message service at 604-682-3269, ext 6159   REGISTER NOW   Copy and Paste the link below to your browser:   http://huntington.akaraisin.com/Common/Event/Home.aspx?seid=3304&mid=8&Lang=en-CA   Volunteers We can always use a helping hand - if you are interested in volunteering at this event, please complete the Volunteer Registration on the registration page.

 

 

Volunteers Make a Difference in the HD Community

Your BC Chapter is looking for individuals to take on a variety of roles on the Board. No experience necessary. Time commitment can be just a few hours per month. For more information, contact Karin Schreurs, kschreur@cmhc-schl.gc.ca and schreurs@shaw.ca (please use both).

 

We have an ongoing need for volunteers to help with our gaming commitment at Planet Bingo, at events like Family Day and our major fundraiser, Hike 4 Huntington’s. Volunteering is a great way to meet others in the HD community. Contact Katie at volunteerhdbc@live.com.

  

YPAHD a BC Presence

It’s pronounced y-pad and it is here! Young People Affected by Huntington’s Disease is a dynamic new initiative with programs especially for young people! Check out Justin Granek’s profile in this newsletter and their website, www.ypahd.ca

 

 

Celebrating 35 Years

35 years ago, a small group of insistent volunteers took action that transformed the lives of everyone connected to the HD community. Their personal goal – to connect and unite HD families in the shared struggle with a cruel and misunderstood disease – became our cause, and people in Canada confronting Huntington’s finally had a place to turn for compassion, understanding and hope. In honour of this 35th commemorative year, one of our generous supporters has offered to provide us with an extra 35% on every dollar that we raise together from now until the end of June.

 

 

 

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH UPDATES

 

 

As mentioned in Vancouver, at the World Congress on Huntington Disease, Dr. Ray Truant Ph.D.

Chair, Huntington Society of Canada Scientific Advisory Board launched a new website this summer.

 

Dr. Truant has now added a direct link to some HD pages and FAQs about current clinical trials and studies.

Please click on the link below to view the latest news from Dr. Truant’s Lab.

www.Raytruantlab.ca

 

HUNTINGTON SOCIETY OF CANADA - BC CHAPTER

 

The BC Chapter of the Huntington Society of Canada is the volunteer organization in BC that coordinates fundraising in support of local programs and initiatives undertaken by the Huntington Society of Canada.

If you would like to get involved in our chapter development or support our cause, please call our Chapter answering service at

(604) 682-3269, ext 6159.

 If you wish to make a donation to the BC Chapter, our mailing address is

P.O. Box 41545, 923-12th Street, New Westminster, BC V3M 1K0

 

  'We acknowledge the financial assistance of the Province of B.C.'

 

Vancouver Support Group for people with HD

 

 

Open ended, must register with Director to attend (Susan Tolley at 604-822-7195 or email stolley@huntingtonsociety.ca) and be able to concentrate for 60 minutes on topics. Psycho educational and support focus.

Second and fourth Thursday afternoon of each month, 1 to 3 pm (no groups in July and August).

Location: Holy Trinity Cathedral, gymnasium. 514 Carnarvon Street New Westminster.

Contact: Jim Lavoie (604) 696-1399

 

Support group meetings consist of a therapeutic group lead by a trained professional who will assist people with HD to help explore coping strategies, to gain acceptance of the disease process, to grieve losses and to offer support. 

 

Time:  1:00pm to 3:00pm Discussion/Activity

Place:  New Westminster, B.C., Gymnasium of the Holy Trinity Cathedral, 514 Carnarvon Street

Handidart disembark off Carnarvon Street

Skytrain Exit: Columbia Street Station exiting up the outdoor stairs on the right (this station is one east of New Westminster Station)

    

 

 

Huntington Society of Canada

BC Support Groups

 

Facilitated by a Social worker with the Huntington Society of Canada

 

Metro Vancouver Area

Type of group: People with HD group

Psycho/educational/ social/emotional support

Location: Holy Trinity Cathedral

514 Carnarvon Street, New Westminster

Gymnasium

Dates: 2nd and 4 th Thursdays of the month (no groups in July or August & some months have only one session, Sept, December, May)

Time: 1 to 3 pm

Must register with Resource Centre Director before attending first group session

 

Victoria Area

Type of group: People with HD

Social/educational/emotional support and therapeutic

Location Queen of Peace Church Esquimalt

Dates: Second Tuesday of every month

Time 11am – 1pm

 The potluck group tends to be social, but we are talking about brining in some guest speakers.

 

Type of group: Care Givers

Social/educational/emotional support and therapeutic

Location Queen of Peace Church Esquimalt

Dates: Third Tuesday of each month

Time: 11am – 1pm

 

Type of group: organized by the Victoria Chapter ( IFS worker attends) Pot luck supper for all HD and families and friends. Social event.

Location: Queen of Peace Church Esquimalt

Dates: First Tuesday of every month

Time: 7pm to 9pm

 

Fraser Valley Area

Type of group: People with HD and Caregiver support Group

Psycho/social/educational/emotional

Location: Menno Home, Brundige Avenue, Abbotsford

Dates: 4^th Monday of each month

Caregiver only group every 2 months or as requested by group members,

No groups July or August

Summer potluck BBQ/Social event

Time: 7 to 9 pm

 

Okanagan Area

Type of group: Pot luck social get together with guest speakers (or audio visual resources) open to those persons with HD, their families and friends/supporters.

Location: Kelowna (Vernon for one meeting) contact IFS social worker for details

Dates: various (usually twice or three times per year)

Time: usually in the evening

 Other B.C. Area Contacts and Chapters

 

Comox Valley:            

Southern Vancouver Island Huntington’s Chapter President: Geri Stewart (250) 386-9891 Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month at the Queen of Peace Church, 851 Old Esquimalt Road, Victoria.  New members are always welcome!

Kelowna: Doreen Marks (250) 769-5471

Kamloops: Lorraine Corrigan (250) 554-1668                     

Fraser Valley:                    

Fraser Valley Huntington’s Support Group: Meetings are held on the 4^th Monday of each month at 7pm, for the location please contact Randy Goossen at (604) 851-0225. 

 

Support Workers:

 

These are professionally trained Social Workers.

Kelowna: Tim Bayliss (250) 712-6225     

Fraser Valley: Randy Goossen (604) 851-0225                

Victoria: Marilyn Miller  (250) 704-2512

 

 

Volunteer Requests

BINGO volunteers needed !!!

Please call our BINGO coordinator

Katie, email: volunteerhdbc@live.com

The Friday evening BINGOs are located at the

Mount Pleasant BINGO Hall, Main & Broadway

Vancouver.

 

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A CAUTIONARY NOTE TO OUR SUPPORTERS

On March 1^st, 2005 a group calling themselves Huntingtons Society Of British Columbia was incorporated. This group is NOT connected with the Huntington Society of Canada (HSC) or the Huntington Society of Canada, B.C. Chapter.

The Huntington Society of Canada, B.C. Chapter was formed in 1976. Over the years the hard work of many dedicated volunteers has contributed significantly to the understanding of Huntington Disease (HD) and the raising of funds to support Individuals & Families living with this terrible disease. Our chapter for 21 years has funded the HD Resource Centre at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and we now also have Social Workers located in Abbotsford, Victoria, and Kelowna. We fund medical research by offering post and pre doctoral scholarships at UBC to individuals who are searching for a cure or treatment for HD.

For 20 years we have conducted an annual camp for persons with HD at Squamish B.C. We also financially support the HD Clinic at UBC.

We thank all of our volunteers and our many individual and corporate donors for their support over the years. We are indeed very proud of all our accomplishments, and regret any confusion this new group may cause.

Any questions? Call our Huntington Society of Canada, B.C. Chapter’s automated answering unit 604.682.3269 Extension 6159 and some one will be pleased to return your call.