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Volunteers needed to canvass region

The Canadian Diabetes Association is looking for some extra help as they return to the streets in May.

The Canadian Diabetes Association is looking for some extra help as they return to the streets in May for their annual door-to-door campaign.

Lynn Kelsey, assistant campaign coordinator, said they are looking for about 600 volunteers to canvass homes in region.

“We need people who are willing to volunteer two to four hours of their time during the month of May,” said Kelsey. She admits 600 people is a large number to recruit, but says that covers an area from Oliver to Summerland.

Kelsey said raising awareness is important, that many people don’t realize diabetes is the world’s fourth leading cause of death. Kelsey’s statistics are staggering, with an estimated 250 million people affected around the world.

In North America, one in three children born in 2000 or later will develop diabetes in their lifetime.

“That and growing. It’s epidemic proportions. Ninety per cent of people living with diabetes have type two and it is mostly preventable,” said Kelsey.

“That’s why we are working on getting the education out there as well.”

There are a number of ways to help out, said Kelsey. Volunteers can choose to canvass in their own neighbourhoods, at their workplace, among friends and family or donate. Students may also qualify for volunteer credit hours through helping out.

The residential fundraising campaign runs from May 1 to 31, with money raised going both to research for a cure and to send kids with diabetes to camp.

For more information or to sign up, call 250-462-5582 or email lynnkelsey@hotmail.com.