The alleged city with a heart doesn’t appear to ring true with children continuing to suffer from an autoimmune disease says a lupus support group leader.
Doctors diagnosed Paula Courtney with lupus in 1993. At the time, Courtney worked as a hairdresser but has since gone on disability and halted her career.
She said the doctors gave her10 years to live.
However, that wasn’t the case and 17 years later, Courtney became the local support group leader for Lupus Ontario and held a fundraising campaign at the Metro grocery store on River Street on Saturday.
Courtney said she hoped to raise $25,000 for lupus research at the SickKids Hospital in Toronto by the end of the month. She had already raised about $3,000 but still a long way to go.
"I know Thunder Bay is suppose to be the city with heart…but right now I’m not feeling it," Courtney said. "You are a city that has pledge to have heart…I’m not feeling it. If we don’t reach this goal the research will not happen. Children with lupus are on a steady incline. What these children have to go through is absolutely heartbreaking."
She said if everyone in Thunder Bay donated about 25 cents, they would reach $25,000. To help with the cause, she also held a bottle drive to raise money. An empty wine bottle could bring in another 20 cents, she said.
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research describes lupus as a life-threatening autoimmune disease that primarily affects women in their childbearing years, and could contribute to a variety of birth mishaps including miscarriages, stillbirths and premature deliveries.
According to Lupus Canada, the disease affects between 15,000 and 50,000 Canadians.
Courtney said she first thought she had a cold but then her immune system started to attack healthy cells and not the virus.
"I only make $7,000 (a year) on disability," she said. "When I get the riches people in the city hanging up on me because they don’t want to hand over one quarter for a child that could die…it is absolutely mind boggling. You have no idea what kind of pain these children are in."
"They have no voice ...I am begging you…please donate your quarter for the children that have no voice."
The next bottle drive is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 1 at Canadian Tire on Fort William Road.
Courtney said people could donate bottles after the campaign ended at 312 Finlayson St. or call her at 626-9127.
