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Another year draws to a close
Suprisingly enough we have made it through almost another year. when Corey Ellilot and I set out
to ride our bicycles to Edmonton in 2000 little did I realize what was being set in motion. The Paddlers for Parts Association
began after Vashti Dunbar and I paddled to Innuvik, NWT from Ft. Providence,NWT in 2001. Local support has been strong
and steady and each year I am amazed at what has taken place and the fact that in are still able to fund this is great.
Looks like we will be at this for awhile yet. Cheers, Greg
 
New Years Eve Free swim
Once again we have rumaged around the bottom of our bank account and have found enough funds to buy
you folks a 3 hour swim.
The Paddlers offered the first New Years Eve Free Swim on New Years Eve 2001. The response has always
been very good our record being 294 people partaking one night. That was a very crowded pool and we were glad hat folks decided
to attend. We like to be able to offer things of this nature as our way of thanking those that chose to support us. This year
the swim is as always at the Ruth Inch Memorial pool from 6PM until 9 PM. The City Firewoks usually kick off around
9 or 9:30 and things are timed so the swimmers can change and get out to see the fireworks.
Our Activities during the course of a regular year start (finish) with this swim followed by the
Spring Paddling film festival which we have hosted every year since 2002 . This event is well liked and we enjoy running it.
We expanded to include a 3 day paddle week-end called the "Paddlers Annual Sociable Affair", which takes place at the
Yellowknife River bridge each July sometime. This past September we hosted the second Annual World Rivers day which
is the last Sunday in September each year.
From a bicycle ride to raise funds for the Kidney Foundation of Northern Alberta and the Territories
we have snow balled and are a fairly busy group. seems we have paddled into a steep canyon and with no way out must
paddle it blind until the end.
None of this of course would be possible with out the support of locals that never seem to tire of
sticking their hands into their pockets for us. We of course will endeavour to see that they get their moneys worth by providing
as much as possible for them to do when the rivers and lakes are open and free. Thanks to everyone that supports eit er morally,
finanically or in spirit.
Paddlers Mission Statement
The Paddlers are a group of concerned
folks intent on raising the issue of Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness across Canada and the globe. We act as a fund raising
group donating our oganizational income to the cause. Our secondary purpose is the promotion of the paddling sports of canoeing
and kayaking as an active and healthy life style. It is our belief that the large community of Paddlers, Hikers and Cyclists
can make a huge difference in the lives of those that live with Kidney Disease.
Please visit the link above and if your a paddler join the new site www.playak.net and start your
own page and group. This is a great way to meet like minded folks from around the globe.
Our newest member I met through this site.
The latest edition of the Paddlers Banner. This will be revised as new groups are added..
Donor Cards
The Paddles have just received the latest version of their Organ/Tissue Donation card and
are presently distributing them now. These cards are for interm use while we lobby for an Organ Donor Registry. We have
a petetion circulating at the moment for this and should you agree and see one at the locations around town please sign it.
Thanks Greg
Should you wish to use these cards you should do the following.
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Discuss your wishes with your family
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Sign the card
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Carry the signed card with you at all times
This is probably the most generous thing that you will ever do, so please consider this carefully
and make your choice.
There are a few things that you should be aware of when it comes to Donor cards.
The cards themselves are donated to the Kidney Foundation by Companies and Associations that wish to contribute to the program.
Cards in Yellowknife have been printed for the last few years by the Dailysis Unit at Stanton Hospital, a program made possible
by the efforts of Patty Woods, RN. Patty was a paddler but has moved to another province and we wish her well. We are graced
with her presence every now and then.
Should you or your organization wish to sponsor a printing please contact me through
the website and I will set that up Greg.
The Paddlers maintain locations around Yellowknife where you can just walk
in and pick up a card, we do our best to see that these locations are always stocked. I have just placed over a thousand
cards under wind shield wipers around town and hope that I got you and that you have decided to use the card for its intended
purpose. We are always looking for new locations for coin boxes and cards so if your interested let us know. We have turned
in 2,146.75 dollars since Halloween 2006 through the coin boxes (about 19
months worth of collecting and rolling coins.) . We are averaging over 100.00 dollars per month from the coin boxes, not bad
for a small town.
During the last four years our efforts combined with the government mail out have
resulted in roughly 50,000 donor cards being distributed across the Territories. There is really no way for us to be sure
who received theirs so we will continue to keep the locations stocked and send them to the out laying communities as we can.
Once the cards have been made available we hope that you use them, but that is up to you and your family. There are thousands
waiting for Organs and many will die this year so every signed card is a possible which is all anyone can ask. A list of locations
you will find just a little further down the page so keep scrolling. I will see about getting this published locally in the
near future, so check the local paper. Consider donation and if you and your family agree, Please sign the card
CARD LOCATIONS In Yellowknife
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Sutherland Drugs perscription counter
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Harleys Shirt shack
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Choice Video
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Weaver and Devores counter
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Receptionist Main Desk Stanton Hospital
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Eldonns Jewelery
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Overlander Sports.
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Shick Chicks
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Yellowknife Public Library
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Yellowknife Public Health Building 1st. floor
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Linco's Pottery Nook, Franklin Avenue
The Why behind our group
Here are some facts that you, like most folks probably are unaware of,but they are why we do what we
do.
- One persons organs and tissues can help up to 80 people
- As of December 2005, 4,025 people await transplant (68% wait for kidneys)
- In Northern Alberta and the Territories alone 128 people are on the kidney transplant waiting list
and 339 are undergoing test to get on the list
- There are 896 others that are on Dialysis, but who could end up on the transplant list should their
conditions worsen.
- Roughly 150 will die while awaiting transplant because suitable organs could not be found
- Canadas donation rate is ranked in the bottom half of countries in the western world where transplants
are preformed. Only 14 out of every million people in Canada donate their organs.
- A signed card is not enough as your family will be asked to consent to your donation. They must be
aware of your wishes to donate.
- Wallet cards are available through the Foundation or in Yellowknife through the Paddlers for Parts
Association (867)444-3007 and ask for Greg
These facts are provided by the Kidney Foundation and you may contact them for more details. They (1-800-461-9063)
would love to hear from you.
| When you think of this logo |
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| you think of us, please do so often |
Welcome to the University of Sea Kayaking web page, please click to visit
Our Logo and the thoughts behind it
I realized when that our logo would have to encompass a few different
things and express the groups we work with as well, not an easy task. However the Paddler's Ribbon is what I came up
with and we feel it works well. The Green Ribbon is the Kidney Foundations symbol of Life and we have arranged it into a kayak
paddle, representing our chosen method of travelling in support of the Foundation. The twin blades serve two purposes representing
both the Organ Donor and the Recipient as well as the sports of Canoeing and Kayaking our favourite fund raising tools. The
paddle shaft represents the permanent connection between the Paddlers and the Kidney Foundation, the donor and the recipient
and canoeing and kayaking our favourite sports. With the addition of other chapters as we grow we like to think that the Paddle
shaft also represents the permenant connection between the chapters. When you think of this symbol you think of us and
we appreciate your thoughts. Greg
Privacy Policy
The Paddlers for Parts Association has a strict policy regarding the personal information of
our members. All contact informaton given to us remains strictly with us and will be used for no other purpose than contcting
the members themselves. We are opposed to the practice of spamming and will not sell or pass on your personal information
or add it to list of any form. Should an exsisting member wish to drop their status all records are destroyed upon the completion
of their request.
Something to think about
Probably not the first thing on your might but perhaps you should consider this little fact. In Canada
at the moment an estimated 2.1 million Canadians have chronic Kidney Disease and do not know it. There are no tell-tale
symptoms with Kidney disease and many discover this fact after it can't be helped. Please sign your Donor Card, carry
it with you and "Recycle Yourself" as thousands wait for the help.
Another sad but ture fact is that Canada loses 53% of it's donated organs to Family refusal after
death. This is perfectly legal but we feel very unfortunate and would like to see the law changed on this. The Paddlers
would prefer to see non consentually donation automatically upon death and option now under consideration in Ontario. All
those apposed could carry a Do Not Harvest card. This approach is having great success in Europe.
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