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Imagine is a national campaign ôf The Canadian Centre for Philanthropy to increase Canadians' awareness and contribution to all charitable and volunteer organizations. We support their goals and are contributing space for the Imagine ads on this and other pages. To bring the campaign closer to home, the Whitby Free Press is running a series of profiles of the needs and activities of local organizations. Call us if your organization could use a boost. Durham Regional Cancer Society By Tamara K. Downes One of the biggest non-profit -orgizations in the region is the Durham Regional Cancer Society. Many Whitby residents pur- chased the bright yellow daffo- dils in April that symbolize can- cer fundraising. In April, apart from daffodil sales, the Society has about 2,000 active volunteers who can- vass door-to-door raising rnoney for cancer research and services. Whitby is divided into 23 zones and then into about 11,000 routes, says Marg Horten, who chairs the campaign. "We hope to have one person per route," says Horten, noting as there are about 15 houses to a route. Yet, she adds, "It's getting CANADIAN CANCER SoCIE'Y Whitby Unit Purpose: to aid in research and patient services Fundraising: door-to-door canvassing, Daffodil sales and fashion show in April, direct donations. Local Volunteers: about 2,000 canvassers during Cancer Month in april, about 25 during the rest of the year. Contacts: Lynn Nazarko - 686-1516 Marg Horton - 668-6703 harder and harder to find can- vassers." The door-to-door residential campaign consists strictl of donations. Last year $61,35 was raised, and the target this year is $65,000. Another recent fundraising event was the April 23 fashion show at Cullen Gardens. Out of every dollar raised, the Society uses 57 cents for cancer research. 15 cents for patient and public education, 18 cents for patient services, 6 cents for fun raisers and 4 cents for administration. Throughoutthe year there are about 25 active volunteers who particip ate in patient services andpublic awareness. Cancer victims are provided with transportation to treatment centres throughout Toronto. Volunteers also help with edu- cation seminars for patients and public. Subjects at recent semi- nars, for example, were "diet and cancer" and "stress manage- ment," says Lynn Nazarko, Whitb Unit secretary. Meetings are hed every Wednesday in the Oshawa General Hospital cafe- teria, starting at 7:45 pm. "Living With Cancer" is a spe- cial program that involves a sup- port group for family and friends of cancer patients. Group meetings are held monthly, the next meeting sche- duled for Monday, June 5 at the Cancer Society office at 172 King St. E., Oshawa. The program has been running for a number of years, offering information for patients and relatives, emotiona support on a one-to-one basis in person or by telephone. Public nurses often attend meetings to provide infor- mation. Volunteer driver ALBERT KNIBB of Whitby is a volun- ing cancer patients to hospital in teer for the Cancer Society, often driv- Toronto for treatment and check-ups. Vince Ohprecio-Free Press photo Until about'10 years ago, tþe Oshawa Unit Cancer Society in- cluded the Whitby area. "When the areas began to grow, they split," says Nazarko. For more information about the Cancer Society, contact Hor- ten at 668-6703 or Nazarko at 686-1516. Cancer infoIin e offered As a special pro&ram funded by the Ontario division Cancer Society and the Cancer Treat- ment Research Foundation, the Cancer Information Line pro- vides up -to-date, fast informa- tion concerning cancer. Averaging upto 600 callers a month, the information line has, five staff members and eight' volunteers to answer calls. The information line has been «in operation for a little over four ars," said coordinator Barbara igby. After a two-year pilot the, program went province-wide. The lines are open Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to5 p.m. Surveys taken every six months indicated that services were not required on the weekends. "We're an information rather than a counselling service," said Ri gby. Ritaff consists of nurses, medi- cal librarian and volunteers that go through an intensive 36-hour training program that don't only include cancer knowledge but also interview, communication and reference skills. The program helps many people understand unanswered questions. The hot line number is toll free, 1-800-263-6750. THEOS: Dealing with"the problems of the living" On the second Sunday of each month, the THEOS group meets at 2 p.m. in St. Andrew's Presbyterian Ohurch, Cochrane St., Whitby. THEOS is a self help group for people who have lost a spouse. THEOS is a acronym for'They Help Each Other Spiritually.' Sometimes there is a film or a special speaker but usually there are small group discussions of common problens for widowed people. THEOS is unique in that it deals with the problems of living. It provides an opportuity for sharing concerns with others and provides practical information for dealing with day to day problems. People who have coped with similar grief provide the most supportive resource the the newly bereaved. THEOS is non-denominational. All widowed men and women are welcome. THEOS goal is to help grieving people to accept tb- circumstances of their lives and to cope with immediate grief. It then helps the widowed to adjust to the changed circumstances and set new goals. Anyone who has lost a partner is invited to meetings. For more information cail 668-2648. GO provides nfo to hearing impaired GO Transit now provides tele- phone information to hearing- im aired callers. Callers using a telephone device for the deaf (TDD) can communicate with GO's tele- phone information centre via a toll-free line dedicated to TDD users onlv: the number is 1- 800-387-352 and can be called from anywhere in GO's service arefnstead of communicating vocally, TDD users send and receive information on their device using a keyboard and a readout screen or printout that shows . . the. .message. being transmitted. GO's telephone centre is open vear-round providing GO train and bus schedule and fare information: from 6:45 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. PAGE 14, WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 1989 A FOU LEYfR wo ~The givig begins with you. A FOUR LE1TER WORD WE SHOULD Al USE MORE OFTEN. GIVE._ _ Help keep Red Cross ready.+