The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

_ . f. ' FRENCH DRESSING --e" 00 . ' )eonsweor Doris . . ‘ {.(I'JWW: Ira' “an Iluu luun \qluu Committed to "r, kw.» w i.O,ttrrloo ' 7404 I83 Breast ( unccr Awareness ----_-" -------- C. lhu Milan “I "t Lulu!» otiU-3993 As tumultuous as this world can be sometimes. the one constant for all of us is that all of the relation- ships in our lives are some- what fragile. Friends and loved ones may come and go. but as we age. this process becomes something we have less control over. Nothing can make past friendships seem more pre- cious than enduring periods of isolation and loss, which so many seniors end up liw ing through in the twilight of their lives. Fortunately. there are organizations such as the K- W Friendship Group for Seniors, which will be cele- brating its 25th anniversary with an open house this Sat- urday in Kitchener. The friendship group is a not-mr-prom volunteer vis- Hing service designed to alleviate the loneliness of seniors and adultk with dis- abilities in the community and are socially isolated due to illness, change, and loss. Twenty-year-old Angela Decker, a student at Sheri- dan College taking gerontol- ogy. is a local volunteer who has found her participation in the friendship group to be most rewarding. "lt's a whole new area for me." she said. "l've been doing a lot of long-term care within residents' homes, whereas here, I'm working with independent seniors and it's just wonderful." Friendship group for seniors celebrates 25 years Fiighty-seven-year-old Rosetta Von luben has no doubt contributed to Deck- er's easy transition. as the bubbly sevnior's aura is instantly endearing. Von [uhen found out about the program (mm a supervisor at the Victoria day school. which she attended and she feels revi. talired by her involvement with the group thus far, "l told the lady there that I was bored staying in the house and she um suggest- ed this," she said happily “I think it's wonderful. I don't know how I'd ever manage to get out without it. I don't 'That's what friends are for-' BY VtsH [GIANNA For The Chronicle have any family here and my grand-daughter works'" _ Von luhen and Decker have an easy rapport with another and even a brief meeting with them indicates that they get a long famous- ly, Decker enjoys her lime with Von Jrnshen so much, she Is already hoping to extend the eight-month minimum volunteer post. Volunteer Angela Decker and Rosetta Von Zuben enjoy a roll through Fairview Park Mail on a recent outtng arranged by the KAN Friendship Group for Seniors "l would really love to continue this -- if Rosetta will let me. obviously," Dock- er laughed. "Sure, I would." Von lube!) interjected assuredly. "We get a long so well," Decker continued. "She's a really outgoing woman, very chatty. We just go to the mall, or have a cup of tea, or just chat, It's great for her One of the most hearten- ing things about Von Zuben and Becker's friendship is how little the 67-year age difference comes into play when they get together. They chat like old friends, laughing, and anticipating each other's sentences. which is surprising for such a coordinated relationship. and it's great for me. Rosetta is really an inspiration to me. She's gone through so much and is still so ambi- tious. I'd love to be like her when I'm her age." All previous volunteers, clients, families. and friends of the program are invited m attend, "It's no problem," Von Zuben said emphatically. "We find lots to chat about." "The funny thing is, the first time we got together Rosetta said, 'What are we going to do for three hours.” Decker recalled. "Both of us were worried about it at first, but we didn't have a problem at all. We just talked. She has different expereinces I can learn from and we're two individuals with a lot to offer each other." While, the volunteer post has provided her with invaluable experience in her field, Decker also takes pride in the service she has provided the Friendship Group for Seniors and hopes that others make an effort to bring joy to those who are isolated or disabled and in need ofcompanion- ship. "People sometimes for- get how much life experi- ence seniors have." she said, "If I have a problem. I can go to Rosetta and say. 'This Is my problem, have you ever gone through anything like this?' I think It's a wonderful and enriching experience for anybody at any age" The K/W Friendship Group for Seniors Open House will take place on Oct. 4 from him-4 p.m at Zion United Church, 32 Weber St. W in Kitchener. For more information roman the office at 742 6502 or, by e-mall kwfn'end@golden.net The annual ClBC Run for the Cure will take place Oct. 5 at RIM Park. Participants will either walk or run one kilometre or five kilometres. raising funds for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Opening ceremonies will begin at 9:15 a.m., foi- lowed byawarm-up at 9:45 a.m. _ _ last year more than 140,000 Canadians walked or ran to raise over $14.5 million in support of breast cancer research. The fun will staft at 10 aan., followed by an awards celebration at 11:15 a.m. The City ofWalerloo will conduct two workshops in October focussing on the growing popularity of dig ital technology. h _ _ _ _ _ The workshop will run from 9 a.m. to 4 pan, The cost to attend is $35 plus GST, And in a separate workshop on Oct. 25. Nassau will cover the basic technology of camcorder/s, including a comparison of standards and performances of many types ofdigital media. The workshop will run from 9 am. to 4 p.m. The cost to attend is $35 plus GST. Both workshops will take place at Wing 404 Rotary Adult Centre. located at 510 Dutton DL in Waterloo. This national fundraising campaign. featuring the official flower of the Huntington Society ofCanada, has raised over halfa million dollars for Ill) researrh. services and education since 1985rlhis year. nrgamr ers hope to raise an estimated profit ofover “00,000 To register for the run. visit any CIBC branch or Running Room store, or online at wwwwbcLorg. On Oct. iii," participants will be introduced to the basic technology of digital cameras with expert Wil- helm Nassau. In an ongoing effort to raise funds to find a cure for Huntington disease. volunteers across Canada are selling Amaryllis kits to Grow a Brighter Future for people touched by the illness. The kits are Sl2 and include a high-qaulity Orange Sovereign Amaryllis bulb, pot, saucer, soil and care instructions. An ideal holiday mm!) takes “I to eight weeks to grow its trademark tall green stalks and exotic orange-red blossoms. "By buying this beautiful plant. you are really huyr mg help and hope," said Isla Horvath. executive direrr tor ofthe Huntington Society ofCanada "Help for people with HI) and their families who are in need of support services now. and hope that through research there will won he a cure for this devastating disease" Run for the Cure supports breast cancer sufferers Amaryllis kits raise hope for Huntington disease City holds workshops on digital technology Regitration will also open at 8 a.m. the G) oi the Canadian Travel t Cruises EC” /4{ ( Vacations on Sale 886-89