Coleen Allum Markham Stouffville Hospital Foundation volunteer A volunteer for more than a decade, Coleen Allum spends a day a week—more during busy times—in the foundation office. “I’m helping the foundation with fundraising efforts in the community, which is so important,” she says, adding she feels a part of the team there. “It gives me a sense of satisfaction to make a positive contribution to our vibrant community,” says the resident of 15 years. “I feel blessed, my family feels blessed, to be so close to such a state-of-the-art health care facility.” Ms. Allum says it was both a surprise and an honour to be nominated as an MSHero. “The staff in the hospital—the nurses, the doctors and all of the caregivers —they are the real heroes,” she says. “I do feel so honoured that someone also thought to include me.”
volunteer
Sue Bonk registered nurse certified diabetes educator It was the opportunity to provide “proactive” health care that brought Sue Bonk, a former emergency room nurse, to Markham Stouffville Hospital’s adult diabetes clinic eight years ago. Ms Bonk works with a team of 15 nurses and dietitians, two endocrinologists, as well as a manager and support staff. Together, they help approximately 8,000 patients with type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes, as well as prediabetes (elevated blood sugar levels indicating a risk of developing type 2 diabetes) every year. “I like it when they realize that they can do something positive for themselves,” Ms Bonk says. “It puts them back in the driver’s seat.” Her MSHeroes nomination indicates her clients feel the same way. “It’s was so nice,” she says, “to hear someone thought I’d really helped them.”
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