2009 BYLAW & POLICY CONFERENCE - April 25, 2009

LEUKEMIA REPORT
Presented by Sylvia Groom, South Central Regional Director
(Click here to watch the Fundraising Video)

"I want to thank Local 175 Executive Board member Lynn Jillings and her family and Local 175 member Tammy Foster for being a part of that video and sharing their stories with us. And we know that so many more of you out there have friends and loved ones affected by these diseases too.

In the last 50 years, we’ve come a long way in the fight against these terrible diseases. Leukemia, which had a 10 per cent survival rate in 1960 – now has a 50 per cent survival rate.

Children diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia – or ALL as it’s called – which is the most common childhood Leukemia – has one of the best prognoses with about 80 per cent alive five years after their diagnosis.

I am happy to report that Locals 175 & 633 members are a generous group of people and are more than doing their part to help find a cure. It’s because of fundraising that research can continue to develop new treatments and hopefully one day – a cure.

Last year, Locals 175 & 633 contributed $350,000 to the UFCW Canada-wide total of $1.4 million.

Our members have been part of many fundraisers over the last two years. From barbecues at Loblaw and Loeb stores in the Ottawa area to the big annual barbecues at several Cargill locations, Quality Meats, Bicks and to our first barbecue last year at Canal Days in Port Colborne. These barbecues raised over $10,000 in the past two years.

Dedicated fundraisers organize walks each year in different regions of the province as well. From Thunder Bay to Ottawa, London and Hamilton, these walks often draw a great crowd ready to enjoy the outdoors and raise money for this great cause. Our walks in the last two years have brought in a total of more than $50,000.

Union Representative Dave White and a dedicated group of motorcycle enthusiasts enjoy the Ride for a Cure each year. That event has successfully raised more than $30,000 since we last met at this conference.

The Local Union hosts a baseball tournament in Barrie that last year brought in a record $3,500 – the most ever for that tournament. And our annual hockey tournament is hugely popular bringing in more than $20,000 every year.

Golf tournaments have raised well over $70,000 and our regional stewards seminars bring in record totals each year.

But even smaller local events are so important. And most of our events that are large now, once started as a great idea with just a few participants. Last year, members at Maple Leaf Foods in Burlington held a Dunk-for-a-Cure event raising $3,500. Twenty-three people came out to the first annual Scrapbook Day in 2008 and they raised $725. Head shaves too are a great idea for raising money and are also a great show of solidarity with those suffering from the disease.

You never know which dollar is going to be the one that saves tens of thousands of lives. And that’s why we believe this fundraising is so important.

This year alone, the generous members at Metro-owned stores across the province have committed $98,466.25 through payroll deduction. That’s almost $100,000 from one fundraiser alone.

Each year for the past seven years, Ted Dawes’ has been Ted on the Roof in Peterborough. He has successfully raised more than $72,000 through that event. This year though, Ted walkied from Ottawa to Toronto – that’s 440 kilometres – to raise money for Leukemia. He’s had sponsorship from his employer Minute Maid, whose parent company is Coca Cola, for $15,000 and a number of other sponsors.

But we want to do more. In your kits (click here to view events) there is a list of events coming up in the next few months all over the province. I encourage you all to participate in as many events as you can. Volunteer to help, participate and encourage others at your workplace to do the same.

There really is something for everyone: payroll deduction – just 25 cents a week, prize raffles, head shaving, barbecues, walk-a-thons, fishing derbies, hockey tournaments, golf tournaments and much more. Remember, if you or a co-worker has an idea for an event… please let us know. We are more than happy to help you organize an event.

Over the lunch hour, staff will be selling raffle tickets for a number of great prizes so please be generous and show your support for your union brothers and sisters like Lynn and Tammy and for everyone who continues to suffer because of these diseases.

I’d like to thank each and every one of you for doing your part and know that we are grateful for your support of this cause and your generous donations over the years.

Thank you."

Watch the Video Presentation on Leukemia Fundraising.