Pink Glove Generousity

October is breast cancer awareness month. Many activities take place to create public awareness and to raise funds for breast cancer research. Two years ago, Medline Industries sponsored a “Pink Glove Dance” video. The video was created a Providence St. Vincent Medical Centre in Portland, Oregon. It has been viewed millions of times on YouTube. The concept took on a life of its own and this year, Medline decided to sponsor a contest, awarding money to the winner’s choice of breast cancer charity. To enter the contest, hospitals and nursing homes were to create their own Pink Glove Dance video.
Our own Victoria Hospital decided to take on the challenge. Over 190 Physicians, staff members, volunteers and friends of Prince Albert Parkland Health District created a wonderful video which can be seen on YouTube. The result is an excellent four minute video. For those of us in Prince Albert, we are enjoying watching it and picking out people we know. For others in Saskatchewan who may not know the individuals, but are voting for the only video submitted from our province, they are witnessing the dedication and commitment of the people who work at our hospital.
All the videos submitted by hospitals and nursing homes across Canada and the United States showcase health employees dressed in pink. The Victoria Hospital video is no different, with pink gloves, hats, boas and clothing on display. What makes our video unique and truly Saskatchewan is that mixed in with the pink are a number of green Saskatchewan Rough Rider t-shirts. What a perfect touch to a great video!
In a perfect world, we would all help each other and take time out of our busy lives to volunteer for a good cause. However, we do not live in a perfect world and so when a whole group of people take time out of their lives to create something like this video in order to raise money for charity, it is a wonderful example of true generosity.
The cancer charity of choice for the Prince Albert Parkland Health District employees is the Saskatoon Cancer Agency. The winning video will be chosen by the number of on-line votes it receives. By the time you read this, voting will have closed. By next week, we will know who the winners are.
Whether the Victoria Hospital employees win or not, I hope the people who created and appeared in this video know they are all winners to us. Not only have they brought breast cancer awareness to the forefront in our region, they have shown the world what generous and dedicated health care workers live and work in Saskatchewan. To our video stars: well done and thank you! Giving your all to help out a good cause . . . it's a good thing!

Thanksgiving

I don't know if it is because there have been so many catastrophes and human suffering around the world this year, or if each passing year makes me more appreciative, but whatever reason, I feel very grateful this Thanksgiving.
One only has to speak to people from other countries who come to Canada to find the freedoms we take for granted, to realize how fortunate we are and how thankful we should be. Citizens in other countries risk their lives to fight for the very freedoms we enjoy in Canada.
Closer to home, I am thankful for a wonderful family. My own little family and my extended family spend most holidays together. As I think back over the years at the gatherings I have enjoyed with brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, and in-laws I realize anew what a wonderful family I was born into and I married into. I am grateful that at those gatherings we enjoy good food and always have enough left over for everyone to take food home. I compare that to the stories I have heard of children who have to fight for scraps of food just to survive.
I have wonderful friends which I am thankful for - both friends my husband and I have as a couple, and my female friends. When I compare the lives we lead as strong, independent women with the women in countries where they have no rights at all, I realize how fortunate we are. How blessed I am to have been born in a country and at a time when the women before me fought for the rights I and my friends now enjoy. My husband and I and our friends are privileged to have leisure time to enjoy getting together. For others, finding shelter and food is a full-time occupation with nothing left over for leisure.
I am grateful that by working and saving, my husband and I have a home we enjoy in a city we love. People in other countries work hard just to survive and will never have the opportunity to purchase their own home.
Thanksgiving is really a time to reflect upon how fortunate we are and how blessed our lives are. Well, for most us - the customary turkey is likely not so grateful to see Thanksgiving Day arrive. For the rest of us, however, enjoying a day with family and friends and being truly thankful for our good fortune is a wonderful way to celebrate this special day. Take time this year to count your blessings and to spend time with those you love. Being thankful for our good fortune . . .it's a good thing!