PAGE 28, WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1989 Imagine is a national campaign of The Canadian Centre 'for Philanthropy to increase Canadians' awareness and contribution to ail charitable 'and volunteer organizations. We support their goals and are contributing space for the Imagine ads on this and other'pages. The &'Kidls on the Block' BvTrudie Zavadovies Wha't is normal? In, ternis of todatys society, that would bé hard to define. What's normal is that we al enter this life with differences. Thfose differences define us as indfr iduals. Some differences are more obvious than others. What's most important is how wye integr a d present our- selves - warts and ail.. Nids on the Block is a puppet troupe featurig disabied and non-disabled puppets which help kida to, undiestand and accpt people and their differences in a positive way. Some of the topics that Ride on the Block address are substance abuse, divorce, learning disabili- ties, cerebral palsy, diabetes and sipina-bifida. Ile puppet troupe doesn't go into great detail, when doing their skits but tell the children ehough about the situation'and leave answers ta the more exten- sive questions ta teachers or -people who have expertise on the supbect., Valerie is a piýppet with spina- bifida. She walks with braces and crutches. When one of the other puppets asks about spina- bificla Valerie says "I was born with it. It meanst bat my«spmne didn't go together rigt.TeWe' a hole between my spine and the doctors had to fix it. They fused Mark is a puppet with cerebral palsy. He uses a wheelchair to get around and he wears a hel- met. He talks with a strained Loice, he doesn't tallc too well and1 sometimes he drools. When explaining cerebral palsy, he says 'My muscles don't work too good.» l1he reason he wears a helmet is because hie rides what hie calse a «souped-up wheelchair.» Mark does pop-a- wheelies in his chair and the first time hie did it he went back too fer and took a faîl. Now he wears a helmet. Dianne is a puppet who wears a scarf. She hias -leukemia and han lost bier lhair through che- mdtherapy. "Ini this script some of bier friends are afraid ta talk to, her » says Heather Wbaley, a Whitby mother who volunteers with the 'l'ie kitconn=sthat not al people die from cancer,» says Whaley. "Ail the uptpora quite a bit of stre ng porra Renaldo, a puppet of Spanish decent, is visually impaired. He wears glasses but can only see shadows. "In the Ait, hie wasn't asked ta go camping witb Marc because ha is bbnd and the kids huh hie couldn't camp,» satys Whaley. "H. assures themrý that hie can. Hie tells how hie went te school ta legrn special skiils.» The kids ask how hie gets dressed. Hesys that wben hie was youýnger bis moni would put simell-stickers on bis clothes and ha wouid match up the smells. Now -that be is older he bas braille labels on bis lothes and hie reads them. In the divorce skit, the puppet tal.ks of being caugbt in the middle. The puppet explains bow she's not divorced but hier parents are. Someone asks who she likes bétter. . q like ta think we are working in conjunction with teachers and other peple in the community,» says Whaley. Whaley was volunteerinat Col.- J. - Farewell publiccho when sbe beard abut Kids on the Block. She took their train- ing course in puppeteering and has been doing it ever since. Ttaining course is about one-and-a-haIfJ ours over four to six weeks,» says Whaley. Each troup of four volunteers presents two topies. "We are available to- present our show to ail sehools ini the Durham Region. Last year we reached between 10 000 and 15 000 children,» says *hiale 4~i learned about disabitLes and social concerne. It very enjoyable to be able to speak to to young children who have genuine interests. We contribute to an area that has to be looked into.w The Kids on the Block is a volunteer non-profit organiza- tion. It now has 15 puppets and covers 15 topics. More voluneer are needed. IDS ON-TH BLOCK (DURHAM IRE GION) (Puppet Troupe) Pùrpose: to heighten awareness about physically, socially or emotionally challenging situations. Volunteers: currently 12 puppeteers in the Durham Region. Actively looking for more. Contact: Suzanne Burton - 576-3011, 39 Wellington Street East, Oshawa, Ontario, LRH 3Y1. Prevention is the greatest weaponII Whkile research into the speci- fic causes of, and treatment for osteoporosis is ongoing, the con- dition is usuail îfrst diagnosed ini post-menopausal women. As menopause, t h ere is a decline in the natural estrogen levels pro- duced by a woman's body. This decline i estrogen is a contribut- inmgfactor in lose of bone mass. Ifosto rosis can be diag- no ed al, rgterp0a boeprecrie,.d log tha pro- gepsrai f egular exeriseandro pror diet, to help minimize further bone mass. Young women -- and mien -- can take simple, daily nreventive steps to reduce the risk of osteo- porSis developing ini theiir later The Pain is Real HeIp strike out Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colîtis. lnttammatory bowel diseases can hit Anyone. . .Anyime. Please support: oeCanadian Foundation for llets and Colitis Natona Office: 21 St. CUar Avenue East, Suite 301, Toronto, Ontario M4T 11L9 (416) 920-5035 Regsered Chaiity #0432922-11-13 years. ik'or example, calcium and exercise play crucial roles in keeping bones strong and heal- thy. A routine which consists of regular weight-bearing exeXcise <even brisk walking) three or four times a week,' and consum- ing the equivalent of three serv- mgs of milk, or other calcium- richfoods, daily can decrease the odds of devýeloping some types of osteoporosis in the future. And because there 18 no sure cure yet, prevention is the best medicine. Such knowledge might have altered the outcome for Robert- son. StilI, she's working to change the prospect for others. Within the parameters imposed C ANADIAN HEARING SOCIETY PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE DEAF AND HARD 0F HEARING. For more information, cail us at (416)964-9595, (TDD) 416-964-0023. or wvrite to us a: 271 Spadina Road. Toronto, OntarioM5R l2%13 by ber condition, Paddy is doing everyvtbing she can to make people aware of osteoporosis and to hel ýthem pr:vent it. hr8s birtbday on Oct. 18, Robertson reafffimed ber message t a ah others who care: "Do not let What bappened to me bappen to you or your loved ones.» To make a donation or to request more information about osteoporosis, write to the Osteo- porosis Society of Canada at 76 St. Clair Ave, W., Suite 502, Toronto, Ontario, M4V 1N2. Lodge wants dog loyers as volunteers Fairview Lodge seeks volun- teer animal loyers, those particu- larly fond of dogs, for the pet visiting program. Volunteers must be willing to commit two, hours a week to work regular rounds at the Lodge with a purebred therapy d0Voiunteers are needed for the following periods: Monday, Wed- nesday and F'riday, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. The Lodge will provide train- Ing and orientation. For more information caîl Heather Tim, Ladge activities prograni dirc- t~6:851 -xt -- - --- VOLUNTEER MEMBERS of the Multiple Scierosis Society, Durham chapter, have been busy dqçiverý- ing poinsettias to hospitals for persons wlth multiple scierosis Barbara Alm Barrett director of special events for Durham Region, and Rn Jobnson, MS Person of the Year, deliver a poinset. iato Ken Thoms ( left) at Whltby Generai