Chair George Van Ankum and volunteers recently hosted a 35th anniversary celebration at the Diabetes Information Centre in Harriston.
In March of 1976, a gentleman approached the local public health nurse at the time, Irma Ternan, about information and support for his wife who had developed diabetes.
Within two weeks, Ternan found a meeting room, a guest speaker, and people who gathered for the first local diabetes meeting. Under the direction and encouragement of regional director Al Green, an executive was formed, meetings continued and within two years, the Palmerston Branch of the Canadian Diabetes Association was presented with its charter on July 28, 1978.
In 1991, the branch moved it’s office to the present location in Harriston, at 94 B Elora St. S. The name was changed to North Perth – North Wellington to better represent the branch area that reaches from Clifford to Alma and Dundalk to Mitchell.
The office, open Tuesday and Friday afternoons from 1:30 to 4:30pm, is managed by volunteers with assistance from staff at the Kitchener, Hamilton, London and national offices.
The volunteers are especially grateful for the community that supports them by attending information meetings, by visiting the office for literature and conversation, by offering items for the Clothesline program, through fundraising initiatives, the annual soup and sandwich luncheon at the Legion, and the annual residential campaign that strives to reach the $50,000 mark, the amount equivalent to a typical research grant.
Local support was also given for the anniversary party. An anniversary cake, veggie platter and a gift certificate to cover the cost of our supplies were donated and donations of notepads, pens, markers, toothpaste, tooth brushes, dental floss, hair care products, lip balms, Clothesline bags, and information bags filled the donated shopping bags.
Van Ankum and his wife Alice, the local society’s longest-serving volunteer, cut the anniversary cake along with Sue Taylor, senior manager of community partnerships and programs in Ontario.
