The Franklin Fund and the Amputee Coalition of Canada formalize partnership

The Franklin Fund (also recognized as the Northern Alberta Amputee Program or NAAP) has agreed to a formal partnership with the Amputee Coalition of Canada (ACC).

 The generous support of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Alberta has been instrumental in launching and sustaining the goal of the Franklin Fund to Òimprove the lives of all amputees.Ó   Since enabling the launch of the Northern Alberta Amputee Program (NAAP) in November of 2006, the University of Alberta has been supportive in the goal of making a difference in the lives of amputees.  From NAAP and more recently under the operating name of the Franklin Fund, the contributions of time, talent and donations has greatly exceeded our expectations for success.  To continue to grow and supports Canadians with limb loss, the Franklin Fund has formalized a partnership with the Amputee Coalition of Canada to create the second largest amputee charity in Canada.  With new, nationally recognized programs and the creation of the Canadian Amputee Research Award (CARA), which offers a $10,000 annual research grant for innovative amputee research, the Franklin Fund through the Amputee Coalition of Canada can do even more to support the lives, interests and needs of Canadian amputees. 

Visit our new website at www.amputeecoalitioncanada.org Text Box: Personal thank youÉ The Franklin Fund has been exceptionally fortunate to have the support and understanding of the University of AlbertaÕs Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry. Without the courage and vision of the Faculty, my desire to create a charity and give back would not have been possible. Nearly seven years later, our new partnership with the Amputee Coalition of Canada represents a national network of healthcare professionals and interested persons dedicated to improving the lives of CanadaÕs amputees. The generous support of the University of Alberta will always be part of our history. Paul Franklin, MCpl (retired)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moving Forward

The Franklin Fund has partnered with the Amputee Coalition of Canada (ACC).  Under this new partnership, Paul Franklin will be part of the Board of Directors with a focus on fundraising. Dr. Jacqueline S. Hebert chairs the Medical Advisory Committee and is a de-facto member of the Board.  Marc J. Tomlinson serves as the Executive Director of the ACC and is a member of the Board of Directors.

 

PROGRAMS

Proven programs for support

Under this new partnership, the Amputee Coalition of Canada will focus on three main areas:

á      Education;

á      Support; and

á      Research.

 

EDUCATION

The Peer Visitor ¨ Program is the first of its kind implemented in Canada and seeks to address the difficulty that informal and unstructured peers visits can have on those who have just under gone limb loss, especially those who have just entered the early rehabilitation phase when a person with a new amputation has no idea of what awaits them. By implementing a training program to certify peer visitors, the Amputee Coalition of Canada (ACC) is able to ensure a minimum quality standard of its program as all peers are evaluated at the end of their training session and reports are received after each visit.

The Promoting Amputee Life Skills ¨ (PALS) Program is an eight week self-management program specifically designed for persons with limb loss. The program is one hundred percent (100%) educational and recognizes that persons with limb loss have very specific needs and realities due to their physical deficits. As such, the PALS Program focuses on how a person who has undergone amputation can improve their health and quality of life following surgery and rehabilitation. More specifically, the program teaches persons with limb loss how to manage their pain, their moods and other problems that they face through a diagnostic model.

 

SUPPORT

The Amputee Coalition of Canada will take over the national administration of the successful ÒFreedom through SportÓ pilot project developed by the Franklin-Northern Alberta Amputee program, a non-profit organization operating under the auspices of the University of Alberta. Under the ÒFreedom through SportÓ initiative, ÒActive Amputee ClinicsÓ are organized around different sporting and recreational activities to increase the awareness of fitness, sport and recreation opportunities for active persons who have undergone amputation. This program is based upon the Walter Reed Army Medical Center (Washington, DC) system of amputee rehabilitation that includes a comprehensive integration of physical fitness, sport and rehabilitation.

 

RESEARCH

In partnership with the Amputee Coalition of Canada, the Franklin Fund through the University of AlbertaÕs Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry will create the Canadian Amputee Research Award (CARA) to encourage research into innovative technologies and treatment techniques for persons with amputation. Text Box: The 2012 winner of the CARA was Dr. William Miller (Principal Investigator), Dr. Heather Finlayson, Linda McLaren and Bita Imam of the University of British Columbia and GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia for their study entitled: ÒWiiHAB-AMPS: A Pilot randomized contolled trial to investigate the use of Ninendo Wii for rehabilitation in older adults with unilateral transtibial amputation.Ó Currently, there is little Canadian funding for research to improve the quality of lives of persons with limb loss.   The establishment of the CARA will jointly fund up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per year. It is felt that a research award of this magnitude will attract sufficient attention and research talent, and allow for the possibility of multiple-year funding for selected projects.  The CARA was established through a partnership with the Franklin Fund through the University of AlbertaÕs Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, and the Amputee Coalition of Canada to help facilitate new and innovative research designed to improve the lives of amputees in Canada. 

For donations, please donate to the Amputee Coalition of Canada through Canada Helps at www.canadahelps.org. Alternatively, you can click the CanadaHelps image below.  An electronic tax receipt will be issued immediately.

The Amputee Coalition of Canada is a registered Canadian charity with charitable number 833263023RR0001. Your donation will allow us to more for Canadians with limb loss. Donors will have the option to allocate their funds to our different programs.