Banner
banner

Spring 2015 (Volume 25, Number 1)

The Battle of Alberta

Download PDF

“The Battle of Alberta” used to refer to a Flames/Oilers hockey game. Now it means a lighthearted – but very serious – challenge between rheumatology clinics in Calgary and Edmonton to see which can generate the most support for The Arthritis Society’s Walk to Fight Arthritis.

Dr. Stephanie Keeling, rheumatologist at The Edmonton Clinic, and team captain of the Arthritis Annihilators says, “We were narrowly edged out by Calgary last year; heading into the 2015 Walk, we are pulling out all the stops to ensure we come out on top.”

For three years now, The Edmonton Clinic and the Calgary Rheumatology Clinic have squared off in a fundraising challenge with the help of rheumatologists, support staff and patients’ families. In 2014, Calgary’s Rolling Bones brought in $16,523 to lead not only the challenge but the country; the Annihilators clocked in at $13,542, good for third-place nationally. Together the teams eclipsed their ambitious $30,000 target for the challenge.

Says Dr. Keeling, “When you consider how important TAS has been in supporting not only our patients, but also the development and practice of the rheumatology profession in Canada, finding a meaningful way to give back is a no-brainer.”

Over the three years that the teams have been participating, they have combined for nearly $100,000 in funds raised.

Rolling Bones captain Terri Lupton, a nurse clinician at the Calgary Rheumatology Clinic, stresses the importance of making the challenge fun. “Whether it is our physicians taking part in a foot race or posting regular updates on each team’s fundraising totals, finding entertaining ways to get people involved in the spirit of the competition helps make it a success.”

It is exactly that spirit of giving back that lies at the heart of the Every Member Campaign: the CRA and TAS are partnering to raise $2 million between them to support rheumatology recruitment and professional development programming in Canada, towards a goal of providing enough rheumatologists to support another 300,000 Canadian patients over the next five years.

Many CRA members have chosen to pledge to the campaign directly; others, like Dr. Keeling, are using the Walk to Fight Arthritis as their way to contribute. Either way, the funds are urgently needed to help address rheumatologist capacity concerns in many parts of the country.

“The way I see it,” says Dr. Keeling, “most of us would not be where we are in our careers if not for the support of TAS at one point or another. We owe it to them, and to our patients, to help support the next generation of researchers and clinicians.”

The 6th Annual Walk to Fight Arthritis takes place on Sunday June 7th.

To pledge your contribution to the Every Member Campaign, please contact Sandra Dow at sdow@arthritis.ca, or by phone at 416-979-7228 ext. 3343.

Image

Issue Skyscraper