OTTAWA, Nov. 13, 2014 /CNW/ - By donating to The Lung Association's Christmas Seal campaign, Canadians are helping the one in five people with breathing difficulties, like 14-year-old Xavier Beaucaire and 10-year-old Natalie Dubé.
Xavier and Natalie are among the three million Canadians living with asthma, a chronic lung disease that makes it difficult to breathe.
Today at Rideau Hall, Xavier and Natalie presented a framed copy of the 2014 Christmas Seal to His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, the Governor General of Canada and patron of the Lung Association, to launch this year's Christmas Seal campaign.
"I am so pleased to take part in this year's Christmas Seal Campaign, another example of Canadians helping Canadians to create a smarter, more caring nation," says His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada.
For more than 100 years, Canadians have been supporting the work of The Lung Association through donations to Christmas Seals. In the early days, funds raised helped to combat tuberculosis. Today, the Christmas Seal Campaign helps the Lung Association fight new battles against lung cancer, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), smoking and air pollution.
"Christmas Seals are a symbol of hope for the one in five Canadians with lung disease," says Debra Lynkowski, president and CEO of the Canadian Lung Association. "We thank all of our donors for their generosity and ask Canadians who are concerned about healthy lungs and healthy air to join the generations of donors who celebrate their health and happiness with an important donation to our Christmas Seal campaign."
Before getting help from The Lung Association, Xavier used to have trouble breathing at night. "We had two years of not sleeping through the night," says his mom Karen Eck. "Then I heard about asthma education at The Lung Association. A certified respiratory educator made some recommendations and, working with our doctor, Xavier's medications were completely changed. Within three days, he was sleeping through the night. It was a minor miracle."
"Thanks to The Lung Association, we've learned a lot on how to better manage Xavier's asthma and help him breathe easier."
About Lung Month
November is national Lung Month. During Lung Month, the Lung Association is asking Canadians to think about their breathing and what it means to have good lung health. Across Canada, The Lung Association works to save lives, prevent and improve lung health through research, advocacy, education and support. We ask Canadians to support the good work we do through donations to Christmas Seals.
About The Lung Association
Established in 1900, The Lung Association is one of Canada's oldest and most respected health charities, and the leading national organization for science-based information, research, education, support programs and advocacy on lung heath issues.
To make a donation
To order Christmas Seals
To watch our Christmas Seals video
Image with caption: "Natalie Dubé, 10, and Xavier Beaucaire, 14, presented the 2014 Christmas Seal to His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada and patron of the Lung Association, to officially launch this year’s Christmas Seal campaign at Rideau Hall, along with Dean Karakasis (R), chair of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Lung Association. Xavier and Natalie are among the three million Canadians living with asthma, a chronic lung disease that makes it difficult to breathe. (CNW Group/The Canadian Lung Association)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20141113_C6038_PHOTO_EN_7996.jpg
SOURCE: The Canadian Lung Association
Share this article