Dear Editor:
The North Shore Cardiac Rehab Society was formed in approximately 2000 by a group of volunteers who had suffered cardiac incidents and found nowhere on the North Shore to receive the well-proven exercise program necessary for ongoing recovery and good health. Other regions in the Lower Mainland already had such a program, but not on the North Shore.
This group of volunteers spent hours and hours of time in meetings and discussions with the recreation commission; initiated fundraising activities and obtained donations from societies in order to help get the program going. Exercising equipment is expensive and our group was pleased to be able to supply this to the original venue at Lions Gate Hospital and subsequently to Harry Jerome. The program eventually took off with the invaluable support and expertise of Linda Bakk and Min. There are now more than 130 members exercising in five locations thanks to the efforts of a group of "hearty" volunteers.
Social events organized by the society each year all form part of the health-giving network: meeting new friends, exchanging experiences, laughing, enjoying a bowl of soup together - a symbiotic relationship.
However, in your March 10 story, Heart Health, there is not one mention of our group, the "founding fathers," sadly most of whom are no longer with us.
These comments in no way are meant to undermine the extremely positive article on the work that is being carried out by the medical and exercise professionals to whom we are deeply indebted. Merely to mention that without the original "volunteers," this program would not exist.
Give credit where credit is due.
Malcolm Barnes, president, North Shore Cardiac Rehab Society
