Former College instructor founds project for breast cancer

n October 29, surrounded by friends and volunteers, founder Judy Reimer took the first stitches in the Life Quilt at the Kitsilano Community Centre.

Reimer was an instructor in Douglas College’s Psychiatric Nursing Department from 1987 to 1992 until breast cancer forced an end to teaching. Her battle continues unabated as the disease continues to spread, but she says she has been lucky to have friends there for her during the most difficult parts of her illness.

“T want to make the path easier for those women and families who will surely follow me,” she said.

Last may, Judy asked Anna Jajic of the Psychiatric Nursing Department to help her begin the Life Quilt project. Anna is now on the project’s executive and will be directing its research into the needs of British Columbians living with breast cancer.

The Life Quilt symbolizes the warmth and caring of neighbours helping each other. Work on the first three panels has begun and will continue as the quilt travels

For your benefit

This is the second edition of a column intended to provide College employees with more information about the benefits of working at Douglas College. Often that means items from the collective agreements that can save you money, such as last month’s column on how to file health expense statements. That kind of information, although important, can be fairly heavy to take in, so we want to also tell you about some services around the College that may not be widely used by employees -- but are there for your benefit just the same.

It’s no secret that physical fitness leads to better health in a variety of ways, including stress reduction and weight control.

Friends from Douglas College came out to support the Life Quilt Breast Cancer Project kickoff on October 29 at the Kitsilano Community Centre. From left: Paula Maisonville, Janine Rousseau, Judy Reimer, Marie Bell, Gloria Kummerfield, Anna Jajic, Martha

Kellman.

across B.C. People can participate by helping quilt the large panels or by sending in bordering squares.

The Life Quilt Project invites women and families to tell the story of their encounters with the disease and is conducting a needs assessment. Once this research is complete, the project will concentrate on helping people access

Did you know that the College’s weight room (Room 1323) is free for use by College employees? It contains free weights, Universal machines, a step machine, and stationary bicycles. It’s open from 7:30am to 8pm; free weights from 8:30am to 4pm.

If you’ re into aerobics or would like to try it, check out the daily noontime classes in Room 1315. The cost is $10 for 5, $17.50 for 10, $30 for 20, $3 drop- in. See Dave Dalcanale in Room 1317 (local 5038). Classes run Monday to 1 Friday, 12:10 to 12:50pm.

If badminton is your game, or even if it isn’t, a group of people have been getting together in the gym Mondays and Wednesdays at 4:30pm to play. There’s

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existing services and providing help that is not currently available.

“Right now we’re looking for financial and personal help,” says Anna. “We have a raffle underway for a weekend on Galiano Island, and we can issue tax receipts to anyone wishing to donate.”

Volunteers are needed. Call 527-5586. ff

no charge; just bring your racket and come down for some fun and a great workout.

The men’s locker facility is adjacent to the weight room, and the women’s is by the lower floor entrance to the gym. Both contain change areas and full shower - facilities. Be sure to bring your own lock.

To help you get started on a fitness program, there is a Fitness Incentive Program for regular employees run by Human Resource Development. It’s a way for you to turn fitness activities into free passes to the Canada Games Pool, or gift certificates for athletic gear. Almost any kind of fitness activity counts; all you have to do is keep a log sheet. Call Dave Neilsen at 5249 or Yvonne Mostert at 5386 for more information or to pick up a log sheet.