The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Mifbý ff Pre rs.Wi~ d? êtiDra 93 àe e s e NEW SEL F-MA NA GEMENT PROGRAM OFFERED Breaking the pain cyce o atrii By Mark Reesor A community-based program te b. offered in Whitby this fal teaches arthritis sufferers how to manage their disease instead of letting the disease manage them. The Arthritis Self-Manage- nient Prograni (ASMP), an inter- nationally known six-week gro- 9am developed at Stanlord U mversity, shows patients how to be «more responsible» for their arthritis instead of being udepen.. dent on medication and their physcian" says pro&Tam coor- dinator Iam an Egond of Whitby. An informal group of up to 15 fpeppe meet two hours a week, led by two volunteer leaders, te discuss such topics as the impor- tance of exercise, pain manage- ment and dealing with depres- sion. Participants are given reading assignments and encouraged to establish goals each wek tot~ and improve their arthritis, with most of the class tinie spent taking the negatives and findinq ways te turn them te positives, says Van Egmond. People are taught te know and eventually break their pain cycle through exercise and diet, for exanýIe, Van Egmond says, reversing a destructive spiral. "The more pain you have, the less likely you are te be active and fit. The less active and fit you are, the more pain youre going te have -- it's a vicious cycle.» More than 1,200 people have taken the ASMP in Ontario so far in 35 diffrent communities, and 190 volunteer leaders have been trained. PAM VAN EGMOND (left) looks over the Arthritis Handbook again in Whitby this fali. with three local volunteer leaders. The program is to be offered Photo by Mark Reesor, Whitby Free Presa One of those leaders, John (hie preferred not te give bis last naine), has conducted classes for evéryone from newly diagnosed patients to those who've coped with arthritis for decades. FHe says the result.s were very encourag- I'Even in a short six wceks, You see a tremendous change in appearance, attitude and range of mobility... (even) people who weren't able te walk an y great distance were able to tell us of their improvements." John says "evcrybody had an improvement» in the classes he's conducted, "and emotionally they felt a lot better about thcm- selves." It's estimated that some 3,700,000 Canadians suifer from arthritis and musculoskeletal complaints, and the pain can be almost unbearable. Ufte5 not uncornmon to hear pcople mention suicide," says John. «Theyre so low that the thought has crosscd their mind.» many people say soon asif was ' i; sed m adds Van Egmond. Àlhough classes end after six weeks, th e program continues. Participants continue meeting as a self-help group, for example, and the process of goal-settng goes on. "Mhe idea is to make goal- setting a routine part of their life -- just like breathing,» Van Egrnond says. Although ASMP is designed friends are also encouraged te attend. Van Egmond says they can usually sit in on classes for free. The cost of the program is $25, and that inchides an arthritis helpbook. 'Ià,d register, or for more informatioi contact The Arthri- tis Society' Oshawa office at 434-7221. The society is also looking for volunteers to help in its fun- draising efforts, as September is Arthritis Month. I SI2io' 1a ofeed$20,OOO raised for cm Members of the Whitby Seniors' Activity Centre can register for the winter session of instructional classes at the centre starting Monday, Sept. 13 at 9 a.m. and for the rest of the week until classes are full. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and ecd member can register for himi/herself and one other member. Classes are held in various locations and include Spanish, French, watercolour painting, birdcarving, aquafit, line/square/ballroom dancing, clogging, ceramnics, folk art, bridge, Tai Chi, fitness and yoga. Classes begin Monday, Sept. 27. Registration is $10 per class. For more information, caîl the centre at 668-1424. DEN meets Sept. 15 Whidtby's annual 'Camp Golf Sci-amble' raised a whopping $20,000 for Camp Qochigeas. The Aug. 23 fundraiser was held at Thunderbird Golf Course. Muskoka's wcll-known camp caters te ids ither suffering or rccovering from cancer. Each year Whit.bys Golden Griddle Restaurant organizes the charitable eve-it, hclped by Harvey Gold and the owners of the Dynamic Golf store. Golfers include6 members and dignitaries frrim Durhami firefighters, Golden Griddle head office cmplioyees and Multifoods Inc., Neilson Dairy, Harmony Printing Ltd., Neate Roler, Oliver Clarke and others. Last year the event raised $15,000 for Camp Oochigeas. Rogr esier, owner of Whitby's Golden ridle Pancake House, was pleased with this year's outconic. Its really good te see the community corne together like .and this ycar, in spite of the recession, bas been outstanding," hie says. The Golden Griddlc Conporation bas raiscd over $200,000 te, date for Camp Qochigeas with continuous ycar-round fundraising activities through the Golden Griddle Children's Charities Foundation, a foundation that funds agencies and other charities te hclp needy childi-en. On Wednesday, Sept. 15 at 7:30 p.m., Durhamn Environmental Network will meet in courtroom 1 at 132 Church St. (above the fire station) in Bowrnanville. Gucst speaker will b. AI Vaillancourt, Co-chair Of Durham's chapter of Canadian Organic Growers. He will comment on the widespread interest in a return te organic growing methods, and will also let people know how they can become involved in Durham's chapter of COG. Other topics will include updates from members of several environmentally.oricnted groups in the Bowmanvile area; news on a recent youth environmental event in Colorado, from an Oshawa high school student; a report on the Ont.ario Environment Network7s spring conférence held in Kingston; ncws about grecen funding" possibilities. A new DEN newsletter and plcdgc sheets.for the upcoming fundraising wlk-a-thon will be available for distribution. DENs meetings are open te cveryone, and those who come are welcome to make announcements about upcoming activities and events. For more information about DEN, caîl 509-3156, 435-497, or 98,5-3225. Dr. Hanson La wishes ta announce the oponîng Practice, with special interest in Obstetrics and 4 Pediatrics. WHITBY MEDICAL CENTRE 668-5835 619 Brock St. S. Whitby LIN 4L1 Wed., Sept. 1%,1"3 loani to 4pni HOUR]LY DEN4ONSTRATFIONS Osteoarthritis Pain Phone for Appointment 430-0039 SCanadian 4Home TherapyW 185 Brock St. N. - Norih . ,das. çourheasl corner BrockiMiairy -1 -