Volume 1

Issue 11

Asthma Society Update

World Asthma Day Special Edition

Our vision at the Asthma Society of Canada is to empower every child and adult in Canada with asthma to live an active and symptom-free life.

In This Issue Tuesday, May 5th is World Asthma Day Write to Your Provincial or Territorial Health Minister, MPP, MNA or MLA Add Voices to the National Asthma Patient Alliance Support Seja’s Run MAY: Make Asthma Yours to Control Send NAPA membership information to a friend: http://www.asthma.ca/napa/register.php

Tuesday, May 5th is World Asthma Day In Canada and around the world, groups like the Asthma Society of Canada will be spreading the international theme that “You Can Control Your Asthma.” The Asthma Society of Canada, the National Asthma Patient Alliance (NAPA) and its members work to empower people every day to recognize that asthma can be managed. You can make an impact on World Asthma Day. Here are some actions you take to make your mark: Write to Your Provincial or Territorial Health Minister, MPP, MNA or MLA Last year on World Asthma Day, the Asthma Society and the National Asthma Patient Alliance rolled out the Asthma Patient Bill of Rights. During the past year, one NAPA member, Bill Swan, encouraged his provincial legislature to support the Bill of Rights and they did. Nova Scotia was first. One voice made a big impact, in this case. One voice added to others can have an even bigger impact. On May 5th, make an impact. Go to our website to download a sample letter to your Provincial or Territorial Minister of Health asking what action they will be taking during May. You can also download a letter to your MLA, MPP or MNA requesting a meeting to discuss issues around access as outlined in the Asthma Patient Bill of Rights. Even one person writing one letter in each provincial or territorial riding means more than one thousands elected representatives can be enlisted for their support. Click here http://www.asthma.ca/napa and go to the Advocacy Activities box to get started. Add Voices to the National Asthma Patient Alliance The NAPA is a group of asthma patients working to improve access to asthma care and information to empower other people living with asthma. Through tools like the Asthma Patient Bill of Rights, our enewsletter and the NAPA website we provide the latest information on asthma. The NAPA website also has a discussion board where people can share their own thoughts and experiences. Membership in the NAPA is free and it is easy to join. Forward this message to a friend or cut and paste this address http://www.asthma.ca/napa/register.php in an email to build the NAPA and add more voices to have an impact. Why not set a goal of sending the address to 2 people today? Support Seja’s Run Seja von Wersebe was 16 years old when she passed away. Asthma was a contributing factor. For the last 14 years, alumni, students, staff of the Toronto French School where Seja was a student have organized Seja’s Run, a 5km and 2.5km fun run and walk to honour her memory and raise funds for the Asthma Society. The event is held on May 9th in Toronto. Complete details on the run are available at www.sejasrun.com. For the first time, donations can be made online to Seja’s Run at http://www.canadahelps.org/gp.aspx?id=3655. All proceeds from donating online come to the Asthma Society and support our important public education work to informing adults and children in Canada that asthma can be controlled. Asthma that is not managed properly takes the lives of 500 Canadians, including 20 children each year. Donate now and we can continue the work of empowering people to live with asthma and manage their symptoms. MAY: Make Asthma Yours to Control May is your month to Make Asthma Yours (MAY)to Control. Take 5 steps to ensure your asthma is well controlled. Click here to see how easy it is: http://www.asthma.ca/napa/wad2009info.php Check the www.asthma.ca for information on all the Asthma Society activities. For all the information on what is happening around the world, click this link http://www.ginasthma.com/WADWorldAsthmaDay.asp?l1=2&l2=0 For the Asthma Patient Bill of Rights, click here http://www.asthma.ca/napa/bill_of_rights.php For the pdf of the Asthma Society of Canada's 2009 World Asthma Day fact sheet, click here http://www.asthma.ca/napa/World_Asthma_Day_May_5_2009.pdf We want to hear from you. Take a moment to answer our survey questions at the bottom of the page at http://www.asthma.ca/napa or join the NAPA discussion board at http://www.asthma.ca/napa/db/

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