Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Chinese acrobats offer aid to Charlford

Here and Now column by Dan Hilborn
Published Dec. 17, 2003


Kudos to Burnaby North MLA Richard Lee who came through big time for the folks at Charlford House - the only home in Burnaby where women can get away from their past life of drug and alcohol abuse.

Lee helped to arrange a $2,000 donation to the society on behalf of the Yan Cheng Acrobat Troupe, a group travelling from China to perform in Burnaby early the new year.

Linda Shaw, program director at the house, was absolutely flabbergasted by the timely and heartfelt gesture, and especially by the very formal Chinese tea service at which the offer was made.

The donation was made possible by Liddy King, a local organizer with the Canada Multicultural Exchange Foundation, which is sponsoring the Chinese acrobats' tour.

Lee said he has been looking for ways to assist Charlford House ever since he heard about its $40,000 funding shortfall last year.

"I thought Charlford House had a great program where participants can learn life skills to reintegrate into society," Lee said.

The Yan Cheng Acrobat troupe is tentatively set to perform at the Michael J. Fox Theatre in Burnaby on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2004. For tickets, call their box office at 604-664-8560.

RUN GROWS IN HEIGHTS

The second annual Heights on the Run has surpassed all expectations.

The run, which is sponsored by Scotiabank, enjoyed 36 per cent growth in both the number of participants and the amount of money it was able to donate to the Burnaby Firefighters Charitable Society.

A cheque worth $3,000 was presented to the firefighters to help fund their CPR program, which teaches basic life-saving skills to every Grade 10 student in Burnaby.

On hand for the cheque presentation ceremony were Heights merchants Kevin Perry of Scotiabank, Mymee Chow, president of the Heights Merchants Association, and Michael Hurley and Jim Peever, president and treasurer of the firefighters society.

Scott Fraser, executive director of the Heights Merchants Association, said the event is rapidly gaining momentum thanks to the long list of sponsors. For more information, visit www.burnabyheights.com.

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