Licking asthma one tasty cone at a time
Posted Jul 29, 2010 By Michael J Brethour
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Tweet ThisEMC News - Belleville This summer get ready to give asthma a few good licks.
This weekend, at several participating locations by purchasing an ice cream cone, residents across the regions get two licks for the price of one.
The Belleville Lung Association and four local ice cream vendors have teamed up to start a new initiative called Cones for Kids.
This is the inaugural year for this four-day-long event, benefiting asthmatic children in the community.
From July 30 to August 2, a quarter from every ice cream cone sold will go to The Lung Association's Asthma Action Program, which provides one-on-one support for asthma sufferers and their families. Participating locations include: Ivanhoe Cheese in Madoc, Dairy Queen in Trenton, County Café and Wine Bar in Bloomfield, and the Sweet Escape Café in Belleville's Downtown.
Katie Ward, fund-raising administrative assistant with the local Lung Association, said the event started in Stratford this year as a fun kind of fund raiser in that community. Ward then pitched the idea to local businesses. "Some were a bit hesitant, due to the tough economic year, but others were very enthusiastic about the event," she said.
Ward said that with the event being in its first year, there was no financial goal set, but she noted that the organization plans to make it an annual initiative. "Any businesses looking to participate in next year can contact us directly, we're hoping for more widespread involvement next year."
Ward outlined a few statistics for the province, "One in four kids in Ontario has asthma, which worsens in the summer months due to heat humidity and smog," she said. "Over 2.7 million Canadians have asthma, but 11 per cent of Canadians between the ages of four an eleven have asthma. In Ontario, 21 per cent of children ages 0 to 14 have asthma." She added the funds generated from the event will go to support the Asthma Helpline, which features certified asthma educators attending the phone lines 24 hours a day.
"The summer season can be a difficult season for asthmatics, as the humid weather and seasonal allergies can increase the severity and number of episodes," said Michelle Colero, the local Lung Association's Interim Area Manager.
"Quite often, medication dosages tend to be affected by hectic summer schedules. It's important for people to stick to their individual care plans to help control symptoms."
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