Thank you to everyone who supported the Breathe Strong raffle. Because of your support, we raised crucial funds for patient programming for those struggling to breathe in Saskatchewan.

The Grand Prize draw takes place on June 6th, 2019 at 10:30 am at The Lung Association, Saskatchewan office.

We always strive to build on our previous success and always value your feedback, which is why we have included a quick polling question to gain more insight from you.

Time is running out! Grab your tickets for the 2019 MegaBounce Inflatable Obstacle Course at Meewasin Park on the evening of Friday June 21 or the morning of June 22. 

MegaBounce is a fun, family-friendly course with 9 inflatable obstacles and is suitable for all ages and fitness levels brought to you by The Lung Association, Saskatchewan. What are you waiting for? Join us to have the most fun you will ever have on an inflatable as you run, jump and bounce your way to the finish line.

Pictured: Dr. Francine Lemire, Executive Director and CEO, The College of Family Physicians of Canada, Dr. James Dosman and Dr. Bryce Taylor, Board Chair, Canadian Medical Hall of Fame

Dr. James A. Dosman, considered “the father of agricultural medicine in Canada” is the founding director of the Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada’s only diversified centre for research, teaching, prevention and service related to agriculture and rural life. He has devoted his long career to improving and protecting the health of agricultural workers. Born in rural Saskatchewan, Dr. Dosman grew up with first hand experience of the challenges of farming and the demands of rural work. As a physician and specialist in respiratory medicine, he early encountered the effects of dust exposure among grain workers which led to the establishment of a nationwide database supporting research and training. Dr. Dosman led the International Labour Organization’s effort to design an international code, Safety and Health in Agriculture (Geneva: ILO, 2011), bringing health care standards to millions of farmers and agricultural workers worldwide. He is currently President and CEO of Agrivita Canada Inc., a non-profit company he helped form, promoting research, public health and safety in agriculture through the Canadian AgriSafety Applied Research Program.

Congratulations Dr. Dosman on your induction into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame!

Are you or your community hosting a yard sale this summer? Get your friends, family and coworkers to donate their gently used and unwanted items to you and increase items for your sale. Selling those unwanted goods and donating the proceeds is an easy and fun way to donate to The Lung Association, Saskatchewan.     

For more information on other ways to fundraise, check out our A-Z Fundraising Idea List to find the perfect match for you!

For more information, contact Dave Parkalub at dparkalub@sk.lung.ca or call 306-667-3044.

Pictured: (Left) Delegates of the Inspired Breathing Conference, (Right) participants of the Patient Engagement Forum.

What a wonderful first for The Lung Association, Saskatchewan. This inaugural conference was held in Saskatoon on May 24th and 25th at the Saskatoon Inn and Conference Centre and saw many Saskatchewan researchers, healthcare professionals, and patients and caregivers learning together and networking with one another. A sincere thank you to our attendees for making this conference a true success.

We would like to extend an additional thank you to our Inspired Breathe Sponsor – Boehringer Ingelheim, our Breathe Sponsors – AstraZeneca, Grifols, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, Rana, Roche, TEVA and Trudell Medical International, as well as our Supporters – The City of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF) and the University of Saskatchewan. Without your generous support we would not have been able to deliver this inaugural informative and collaborative conference. Thank you!

Planning is already underway for the Inspired Breathing Conference 2020 so please save the date – May 22nd and 23rd in Saskatoon at the Saskatoon Inn and Conference Centre. Congratulations Saskatchewan on making lung health a priority.

What does inspire mean to you?

For us, it means empowered, motivated and most importantly it describes the inhalation of a deep and powerful breath. Our vision is to live in a world where everyone has healthy lungs and the struggle to inhale, to take that next breath is no longer a fight for anyone. Inspired Giving is a program for those who share our vision and want to improve lung health in our province by donating monthly. People like you, who care about making a direct impact in our communities. A direct impact for health, for our children, for our future, for our loved ones. 

Join us on our journey and leave an inspired gift today at www.inspiredgiving.ca

Pictured: Rachael Malmberg presenting at radon conference.

Two years ago, when Rachael Malmberg was just 31 years old, she was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer, with metastases in the brain and mediastinum lymph nodes. Given her active, healthy lifestyle, the diagnosis came as a shock. Rachael, a former collegiate and national-level hockey player, had competed with the United States Under-22 and Senior Women’s teams in several Four Nations Cups and World Championships. 

Rachael’s search for a cause for her lung cancer led her to have both her current and childhood homes tested for radon.  Both homes measured high. Now a lung cancer survivor, Rachael is devoted to driving change and raising awareness of radon.  On Monday, April 29, Rachael was a guest speaker at the Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists’ (CARST) 8th annual Radon Conference. The conference, was held for the first time ever in Saskatchewan and attracted attendees and speakers from across Canada, the United States and Europe.  The Lung Association, Saskatchewan helped plan the conference and our staff presented on an exciting upcoming radon campaign that will be launched this fall in both Saskatchewan and Manitoba - known hot spots for radon.  The goal of the campaign is to empower home owners to test their homes for radon.

Radon is a radioactive gas that is present in the air and can accumulate to high concentrations in homes.  Long-term exposure to high levels of radon damages our lung tissue DNA and can lead to increased lung cancer risk.

Invest in your lung health and test your home for radon today!

This program is made possible by a partnership between the Canadian Lung Association (CLA), CIHR -Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health (CIHR-ICRH) and AstraZeneca Canada (AZ Canada). The goal of the award is to support Emerging Clinician Scientists (e.g., Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Medicine with graduate research training, Doctor of Dental Sciences, PhD-Respiratory Therapist, PhD-Registered Nurse, PhD-Physiotherapist, PhD-Occupational Therapist) within the first five (5) years of their first faculty appointment in the establishment of their careers. 

Research Areas

Priority areas include basic and translational research programs in chronic respiratory disease, including but not limited to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, cough, chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia, Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, Interstitial Lung Disease, and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Funds Available

·The total amount available for this funding opportunity is $400,000, enough to fund approximately 2 awards. The maximum amount per award is $100,000 per year for up to 2 years for a total of $200,000 per award.

·These funds can only be used to support the research program of the clinician scientist. The funds cannot be allocated to the salary or benefits of the applicant.

Registration deadline: June 26, 2019

Application deadline: July 31, 2019

For more information, please consult the Canadian Lung Association Website.