T H E
the fine print
TO DO: Steveston Rotary Club presents the Santa Claus Parade Thursday, Dec. 23, at 6 p.m. The parade begins at Hunt Street and Sixth Avenue in Steveston, and winds its way to Steveston Community Centre. Non-perishable donations will be collected along the route for the Steveston Seniors Program.
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the weather Wednesday high..................8 low ...................5 Rain, windy Thursday high..................8 low ...................5 Rain Friday high................10 low ...................7 Rain
on this day December 22, 1989 – Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate reopens after nearly 30 years, effectively ending the division of East and West Germany.
webpoll QUESTION: Should the city retain a Biennale artwork? Yes (17%) No (83%) THIS WEEK’S QUESTION:
Are you glad Christmas is almost over? Cast your vote at www.richmond-news.com
quote of the week
“I’m not so naive as to think sports will solve all life’s problems, but it solves some of them.”
— Oval CEO John Mills on new legacy program.
R I C H M O N D
N E W S
Upfront
The Richmond News December 22, 2010 A03 Editorial enquiries? Please contact The Richmond News 5731 No. 3 Road V6X 2C9 Phone: 604-270-8031 Fax: 604-270-2248 E-mail: editor@richmond-news.com
Blood donations urgently needed BY EVE EDMONDS
eedmonds@richmond-news.com
Yes, it’s a busy time of year. People are out shopping, partying, attending holiday concerts. But while many are enjoying the holiday season, many others are in hospital right now desperate for blood, said Ginny Martin. Because the supply was so low, “twice we had to have blood flown in from out of province,” said Martin. “It’s a very scary time.” The Richmond mother of two was referring to last year at this time when her two-year-old daughter had a relapse. Shaelyn was born in September 2007, two months after her birth she was diagnosed with cancer. She went through a grueling round of chemotherapy and radiation in her first year of life but celebrated her second birthday out of hospital and in remission. However, just a couple of months later the cancer returned and last Christmas was spent back in the hospital. This time the need for blood was even greater as Shaelyn would require more complicated treatment. At age three, Shaelyn has now had 55 blood transfusions. It’s no wonder her mother has become a vocal advocate of blood donation. And when she heard that donations at Richmond blood clinics are way down, she was eager to tell her story and put a human face to the need for giving. Right now there are over a hundred appointments available on Dec. 31, said Angela Poon, spokeswoman for the Canadian Blood
Holiday season a ‘scary time’ as supply drops, but need doesn’t days — and even that’s stretching it. Preferably they should be used within three days, said Poon. This means Blood Services can’t collect extra blood ahead of time. They need fresh blood coming in on a near daily basis. An added complication to Shaelyn’s situation is the fact she needs a stem cell transplant, explained Poon. The umbilical cord is considered the riches source of stem cells but Canada doesn’t have a public cord bank. Although we do have private ones, where parents pay to have the cord saved for future private use. The only alternative for Shaelyn was to go through the One Match Stem Cells and Marrow Network, which allows Canadians access to a kind of international cord bank. see Poon page 4
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Ginny Martin shops with her daughter, Shaelyn, 3, who has had 55 blood transfusions after developing cancer. Her mom has since become a vocal advocate of blood donations. Services, BC & Yukon. “It’s not that the need goes up at Christmas, but it remains constant, while the donations go down.”
The challenge with collecting blood is that it only lasts a limited time. Platelets, which are a component of the blood that clot and prevent excess bleeding, only last five
Currently, Blood Services is struggling to fill its upcoming clinics in Richmond. The biggest need is on New Year’s Eve — two clinics are running with an availability of more than 150 open appointments. Bloodmobile – Lansdowne Centre, 100-5300 No. 3 Rd. ! Dec. 24, 9:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. ! Dec. 31, 9:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. St. Alban’s Anglican Church, 7260 St. Alban’s Rd. ! Dec. 30, 1:30 to 8 p.m. ! Dec. 31, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call 1-888-236-6283 to book an appointment.
Armstrong to stay on Canada’s curling team BY ALAN CAMPBELL
acampbell@richmond-news.com
Richmond’s skip of Canada’s gold-winning Paralympic curling team has been cleared to play on for Canada — despite admitting to selling and dispensing counterfeit drugs. Jim Armstrong, 59, found out last week of the Canadian Curling Association’s (CCA) decision to discipline him for his off-ice indiscretions, but will allow him to continue with the national team program. The CCA refused to divulge what actual discipline was handed down to the gold medalist. However, Armstrong — who will be sentenced next month along with his son, Gregory, for trying to bring boxes of the fake sexual performance enhancing drugs Viagra and
Cialis over the U.S. border — has been told by the CCA that it may change its mind should “further information” come to light either before during or after the skip’s sentencing in Seattle. The CCA’s chief executive officer, Greg Stremlaw, said its review committee’s verdict on Armstrong “does not infringe his ability to play for Canada.” Stremlaw added that the decision was taken, “based on the facts we have at this time. “(The disciplinary action) includes special conditions. Therefore, should any new facts become available then the matter can be revisited.” Stremlaw said that certain conditions — that he wasn’t prepared to elaborate on — still have to be fulfilled by Armstrong in order for him
Armstrong and to continue representing his son, Gregory, his country. 28, pleaded guilty “If he fulfills them, in a Seattle court in then the matter will be October to reduced closed,” he said. charges of selling and When the News dispensing counterfeit spoke to Stremlaw in sexual performance October, he highlighted enhancing drugs. that every athlete repThey had both been resenting Canada has previously charged to adhere to a code of Jim Armstrong with the more serious conduct. He confirmed that the same code offence of drug trafficking. Under the terms of the plea of conduct formed part of the CCA agreements, prosecutors will reccommittee’s review of Armstrong’s ommend that Jim Armstrong pay a case. Jim Armstrong could not be con- $50,000 fine, perform community service hours and be sentenced to tacted by press time. the time he already served in U.S. However, he indicated to the custody. Gregory is being recomNews in October that the U.S. prosmended to serve a year behind bars. ecutor’s offer to reduce the charges The sentencing judge is not against his son was conditional on bound by the recommendations. Jim also pleading guilty.