Kiwanis, LCHS Join Forces for Eliminate Project

Several members of the Kiwanis Club of La Cañada and their sponsored La Canada High School Kiwanis Key Club worked together this past Sunday selling peanuts at Ralphs Super Market to raise money for the Kiwanis Eliminate Project.

With The Eliminate Project, Kiwanis International and UNICEF have joined forces to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus. This deadly disease steals the lives of nearly 60,000 innocent babies and a significant number of women each year. The effects of the disease are excruciating — tiny newborns suffer repeated, painful convulsions and extreme sensitivity to light and touch.

To eliminate MNT from the Earth, more than 100 million mothers and their future babies must be immunized. This requires vaccines, syringes, safe storage, transportation, thousands of skilled staff and more. It will take $110 million — and the dedicated work of UNICEF and every member of the Kiwanis family.

Kiwanis and UNICEF joined forces to tackle iodine deficiency disorders, achieving one of the most significant public health successes of the 20th century. Now, they are eliminating MNT from the face of the Earth. And in doing so, the project will reach the poorest, most neglected mothers and babies with additional lifesaving health care. The end of this one disease means the beginning of better health for so many families.

The students joined their adult sponsors on a ice cold afternoon at Ralphs to raise a significant amount of money donated by local residents who shop at Ralphs. Pictured here left to right are: Kiwanis President Elect Thomas A. Passanisi, Gigi Shuleter, Peggy Touchstone, Stewart Lee, Key Club Secretary 10th grader Chrsitine Noh, Keyclubber Colin Suehiro, and Kiwanis Key Club Advisor Ken Lowe.

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