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105, 2017

Kiss Goodbye to MS – Month of May

During the month of May you can help Kiss Goodbye MS by wearing red lipstick and sharing the message with a special Kiss Goodbye MS event.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a condition of the central nervous system interfering with nerve impulses within the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. MS affects over 23,000 people in Australia with most people diagnosed between the ages of 20-40 and 3 in 4 affected are women.

The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS are different for everyone. There is currently no known cure for MS however there are a number of treatment options available to help manage symptoms and slow progression of the disease.

You can help by holding a fundraiser! How you fundraise is up to you. Wear red lippy in May, hold a workplace morning tea, organise a dinner, hold a community BBQ the options are limitless.

2804, 2017

Pay it Forward Day

Based on a concept from a Catherine Ryan Hyde novel, Pay It Forward Day urges people around the world to commit random acts of kindness. It is a day to do good deeds, and instruct the recipient of your good deed to ‘pay it forward’ and return the good deed to another person.

Pay It Forward Day is about people from all walks of life giving to someone else and making a positive difference. There is tremendous power and positive energy in giving and showing each other that we care.

SOME EXAMPLES OF WHAT YOU CAN DO ARE:

  • Pay for someone’s cup of coffee
  • Get the next person’s food, toll, petrol, etc.
  • Help someone out in need
  • Host pay it forward activities in your office, school, church or community
  • Become a Pay it Forward Day ambassador and help raise awareness in your circles of influence
  • Let others know about Pay it Forward Day through your social media channels
  • Donate to a worthwhile cause

For more information jump onto the website: payitforwardday.com

1104, 2017

World Parkinson’s Day- 11th April, 17

World Parkinson’s Day is an opportunity to raise awareness of the condition, while also raising funds to continue research into a possible cure. Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, progressive neurological condition that affects a person’s control of their body movements. Twenty-five Australians are diagnosed every day, with approximately 80,000 Australians currently living with the condition.

The average age of diagnosis is 65 years, however younger people can be diagnosed with Parkinson’s too. This is referred to as Young Onset Parkinson’s.

Parkinson’s results from the loss of cells in various parts of the brain. When dopamine production is depleted, the motor system nerves are unable to control movement and coordination. The dopamine producing cells are lost over a period of years and the motor type symptoms such as tremor, rigidity etc will start to appear. Generally people diagnosed with Parkinson’s have had it for some time without realising and are only diagnosed when 80% of the dopamine producing cells are lost and the motor type symptoms appear.

It is not easy to diagnose Parkinson’s disease. There are no laboratory tests (such as a blood test or brain scan) so it is important that the diagnosis is made by a specialist, such as a neurologist. The specialist will examine for any physical signs of Parkinson’s and take a detailed history of symptoms.

204, 2017

Be alarmed! Change your smoke alarm battery!

Working smoke alarms provide vital early warning in the event of a fire. Smoke alarms are essential to wake people if a fire breaks out as when people are asleep they can’t smell smoke. They give occupants early warning and time to evacuate safely.

A good time to remember to change your smoke alarm batteries is when you change your clocks twice a year, being when daylight saving time begins and ends. Daylight savings ends on Sunday the 2nd April 2017 this year so get up on those step ladders and change the battery in your smoke alarm.

1303, 2017

COELIAC AWARENESS WEEK – 13 Mar 2017 – 20 Mar 2017

Coeliac disease is a digestive and autoimmune disorder that results in damage to the lining of the small intestine when foods with gluten are eaten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley and oats. Gluten causes damage to the lining of the small intestine (the part of the digestive system responsible for absorbing nutrients) and the damage to the intestine makes it hard for the body to absorb some nutrients. Even small amounts of gluten can cause harm, the only treatment is to avoid gluten allowing the bowel lining to recover. Strict attention to diet must be lifelong.
Symptoms vary among suffers. They also range from severe to minor and may even go undetected. Symptoms can often be confused with irritable bowel syndrome or a sensitivity to wheat or other food. They are often put down to just getting older or even stress.

Common symptoms are anaemia, bloating, flatulence, diarrhoea or constipation, stomach cramps, weight loss and fatigue to name a few.

Coeliac Australia is a not-for-profit association comprising five state organisations. The group is aimed at enhancing the quality of life and supporting those with the disease. It also supports research towards a cure or other ethical forms of treatment.

Coeliac Australia can be contacted on www.coeliac.org.au or 1300 458 836.

303, 2017

MELANOMA MARCH

Melanoma March is your chance to help end melanoma. March is Melanoma Institute Australia’s annual awareness and fundraising initiative, supporting life-changing melanoma research. In recent years, ground-breaking discoveries have tripled the life expectancy for advanced melanoma patients and while we’re moving closer to a cure, more research is needed to help the thousands of Australians diagnosed with melanoma each year.

By participating in one of our national Melanoma March events or by organising your own activity, challenge or event to ‘Move for Melanoma’, you can support our research and move us closer to a cure.

303, 2017

NATIONAL CLOSE THE GAP DAY – 16th March 2017

National Close the Gap is a campaign achieving great results and this has only happened with community support. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people still die 10-17 years younger than non-indigenous Australians so closing the gap will not be done overnight. In 2006, 40 national organisations came together to form Close the Gap, Australia’s largest ever campaign to improve the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Working in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is one of the critical success factors. With continued support from the public, we can ensure the Australian Government continues to work with Indigenous communities, recommit additional funding and invest in real partnership.

For more information go to: www.oxfam.org.au/act/events/close-the-gap-day.

2402, 2017

Teal Ribbon Day: February 24th

Show your support for women living with ovarian cancer by wearing a teal ribbon on February 24th. Ribbons are $2. You can purchase your teal ribbon in-store at Chemmart Pharmacies and from Black Pepper stores.

www.ovariancancer.net.au.

102, 2017

FEBFAST

FebFast is a little Australian campaign that achieves big things. It is about challenging yourself and giving up something for the month of February. This may be alcohol, smoking, caffeine, social media, sugar or something of your choice to raise vital funds in support of disadvantaged young people aged 12-25 across the country. The money raised will help fund youth workers who dedicate their time to connect young people with the support, programs and services they require.

Register online as a team or go solo. You can either ask people to sponsor you or donate directly. Who knows you may feel sharper, fitter and healthier all whilst raising money.

febfast.org.au/

102, 2017

OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

Each February Ovarian Cancer Australia runs a national Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month campaign to highlight the symptoms of ovarian cancer and to raise funds for their programs.

The Campaign plays an important role helping Australians recognise the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer, knowing their family history and how to help. With no early detection test, it is important that women have this knowledge.

It can be difficult to diagnose ovarian cancer because the symptoms are ones that many women will have from time to time, and they are often symptoms of less serious and more common health problems.

But we do know that ovarian cancer isn’t a silent disease. Women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer report four types of symptoms most frequently:

-Abdominal or pelvic pain.

-Increased abdominal size or persistent abdominal bloating.

-Needing to urinate often or urgently.

-Feeling full after eating a small amount.

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms mentioned and they are new for you and you have experienced them multiple times during a 4-week period please ring our reception staff and make an appointment with one of our doctors.