BC Medical Association-Working to Improve the Health and Safety of British Columbians: Excellence in Health Promotion Awards Announced

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - June 11, 2012) - The BC Medical Association is pleased to announce the recipients of the Excellence in Health Promotion Awards. Julia Tikhonova was awarded the Individual Award of Excellence and the partnership of BC Mental Health and Addiction Services and BC Children's Hospital were awarded the Non-Profit Award of Excellence.

At 14 years old, Julia Tikhonova began her health promotion work after losing her grandfather to prostate cancer. Tikhonova organized a 10k run to raise funds and awareness around prostate screening in her West Vancouver community and over $3,000 was raised because of Julia's determination. In 2011, Julia turned her attention to the increasing rate of eating disorders among youth and made it her mission to make youth aware of the supports available to them by organizing the 'Be Real Walk'. Over 100 people participated in the walk and $4000 was raised to further promote eating disorder programs. Last month, Julia organized and promoted another successful event for the dermatology and otolaryngology sections of the BC Children's Hospital Foundation.

The Provincial Child and Youth Healthy Living Initiative developed by the BC Mental Health and Addiction Services, along with BC Children's Hospital aims to support and promote health and wellbeing amongst children and youth with mental health challenges across the province. The initiative offers three program components that include: a provincial mental health metabolic program (MHMP), healthy living toolkits for health professionals and families, and an interactive online community for children, youth and their families. More than 144 families have benefited from MHPM, over 300 toolkits have been made available to families and the interactive online community has seen over 36,000 unique views.

This is the 13^th year that the BC Medical Association has presented the awards that recognize individuals and organizations that are demonstrating leadership to improve the health and safety of British Columbians. The BCMA aims to encourage more groups and individuals to undertake health promotion activities by honouring current exceptional initiatives that also include the potential for positive, long-term improvement in protecting the health and safety of British Columbians.

Winners received a sculptured glass award and framed certificate at the BC Medical Association's Awards Banquet that followed the Annual General Meeting, Saturday evening, June 9^th.