Canadian Free Press Release Service

BIG BOOK FOR KIDS is a new outreach program by the Lymphedema Association of Ontario and is the organization's first initiative to focus on children. In collaboration with the Hospital for Sick Children's Department of Rehabilitation Services, a donated book will be provided to each newly diagnosed and follow-up lymphedema patient, aged newborn to eleven.



This program is supported by a unique fundraising model that provides an opportunity for children and their families to help other children less fortunate. By making a donation of $35.00 to the Lymphedema Association of Ontario's Big Book for Kids Program, a child or family can personalize a bookplate with their name that is placed inside the book for a child with lymphedema.



An initial donation of $1150 was provided by the Grade 6S students at Montcrest School in Toronto, through a classroom fundraiser. One of their students has lymphedema and introduced her class to the Big Book of Lymphoedema. This book is a valuable resource that only only helped her, but also her friends, classmates and teachers to understand the challenges of living with lymphedema.



The Montcrest School Grade 6S students and their teacher, will be participaing in the official launch of the program at The Hospital For Sick Children on Thursday, April 15 between 12:30 and 1:30pm. They will be presenting their donated books to Pam Hilliard, a physiotherapist at the hospital's Department of Rehabilitation Services, who treats most of the lymphedema patients.



The children and families of United Synogogue Day School were also generous in providing over $1,200 in donations to the program during their recent school book fair.



Lymphedema is a chronic and often debilitating condition that occurs due to an abnormal buildup of lymphatic fluid because of a failure in lymph drainage. While Secondary Lymphedema, caused by damage to the lymphatic pathways through cancer treatment, is the most common form of lymphedema in Canada, Primary Lymphedema develops as a result of a malfunctioning lymphatic system, usually as a result of genetic underdevelopment.



Lymphedema manifests itself as chronic swelling of one or more limbs and may also affect areas such as the head, neck and trunk. The accumulation of lymph fluid causes a wide range of effects that can include impairement of daily activities, due to swelling, pain and lack of mobility. Additionally, many patients are affected by physosocial issues as well. Increased susceptibility to acute cellulitis can result in frequent hospitalizations and long term dependency on antibiotics. Under treated lymphedema can lead to irreversible complications and further damage to the lymphatic system.



According to a study by the Lymphedema Association of Ontario in 2006, there are an estimated 63,000 people living with lymphedema in this province. Yet for many patients, a diagnosis is difficult to find and treatment is not accessible to all.



There is no cure for lymphedema. A diagnosis of lymphedema presents a significant change in quality for a child's life. The Big Book of Lymphoedema, is authored by Dr. Jacquelyne Todd, who has been working in the field of lymphedema for the last twenty years in England. It is the only book that is designed specifically to teach children about lymphedema, and it encourages them to feel in control of their condition and treatment. The Lymphedema Association of Ontario launched this new program to help all children with lymphedema in Ontario feel better about living with this condition and to enable them to explain lymphedema in simple terms to their friends, classmates, teachers and relatives.



The Lymphedema Association of Ontario is a registered charity that has been providing support, education and awareness about lymphedema to patients, their families, and health care professionals since 1997. Their signature event is an annual education and awareness conference that brings in world renowned lymphedema experts. This year's one day conference will take place on Saturday, November 21, 2010 at the conference facilities of the CNIB.



More information about this program and Lymphedema can be obtained by contacting the Lymphedema Association of Ontario's Executive Director, Anna Kennedy at

4161 Dundas Street West, Toronto, Ontario M8X 1Y2

416-410-2250 or lymphontario@yahoo.com

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