As of last week, the Lung Association’s Christmas Seals campaign is $200,000 short of its $604,000 fundraising goal.
The annual campaign got underway in mid-October with more than 100,000 households in Alberta and Northwest Territories receiving colourful stamps that can be used to seal envelopes for Christmas cards and gifts.
Since 1939, Christmas Seals have been the organization’s principal source of funding.
“Life threatening lung diseases are on the rise,” said Leigh Allard, president and CEO of The Lung Association, Alberta & NWT (TLA).
“Already one in five Canadians suffer from respiratory disease and it is currently the third leading cause of death in our country.”
Health care costs from three of the biggest respiratory illnesses — asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and lung cancer — have reached $12 billion.
If no new treatments are found, that number could double by 2030, according to a Conference Board of Canada study.
The Lung Association — one of the oldest charities in Alberta and in the Northwest Territories — raises funds through Christmas Seals to provide funding for research, prevention, and support for thousands of Albertans who are suffering from lung disease.
“It is crucial that we meet our Christmas Seals target this year because statistics show that lung disease is increasing at an alarming rate,” said Allard.
“We greatly appreciate the generosity of long-time donors, and call upon new donors in your community to help in the fight against lung disease. Please give generously.”
The Christmas Seals campaign wraps up on Dec. 31st.
For decades Albertans and residents in the Northwest Territories have been supporting the work of The Lung Association through donations to Christmas Seals. In the early days it helped to combat tuberculosis. Today the Christmas Seals campaign helps The Lung Association fight new battles against lung cancer, asthma, and COPD.
“Christmas Seals are a symbol of hope for the one in five Canadians with lung disease,” said 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.”
To donate or for more information, visit the Lung Association’s web site at www.ab.lung.ca or call 1-888-566-LUNG (5864).
Debra Lynkowski
Canadian Lung Association
