The Morgan Jayne Project’s success can be measured in lives saved, however the work doesn’t stop.
    The project has been a great part of Familias Saludables in the Roatan, progressing into its fourth year of zero transmission of AIDS. This is well ahead of the United Nation’s mandate to achieve this by 2015.  Key to this has simply been infant formula, and the demand is not letting up.
    As a novel approach to continue the support to provide infant formula, the first annual Morgan Jayne Project’s Baby Shower was launched and already it is working towards its goal.
    Founder of the project, Fred Makowecki, said the baby shower idea was from Cindy Thomas and it has a goal to collect 50 cans of powdered formula.
    Drumheller McDonald’s is showing its support, and for a donation dropped off at Image Crafters or Western Chev, supporters will receive a coupon for a coffee and muffin from McDonald’s.
    The Morgan Jayne Project is also hoping to cash in on those wanting to rid of their drawers and piggy banks of pennies.  Quite simply to the project, “Cents Save Lives,” and they have been collecting pennies to buy formula for children served by the Morgan Jayne Project. Literally, pounds of pennies have been donated, and more are welcome at Image Crafters.
    While the basis of the Morgan Jayne Project continues to be infant formula, the project has grown with the children it has saved.
    With the new year comes school and supporters of the project also signed on to support the children wanting to go to school.
    Makowecki said one of the best chances children in Roatan have to lift themselves is education, however the stigma of AIDS still makes it difficult for the families to enroll their children in public schools.
    These children have a chance to go to school but they need sponsorship to help cover the costs. Sponsorship is $600 per year and with the support of Morgan Jayne project believers, they were successful in sponsoring all the children they set out to.
    The Baby Shower is rapidly approaching its initial goal, but the more formula the better. To support the project simply drop off a can of formula at Image Crafters.

    How long would it take to walk to Mexico? Seniors in Drumheller have just answered that question; six weeks.
    Seniors across Drumheller were challenged to walk and record how many steps they took over six weeks. The numbers were then tallied and, when converted, took them to Mexico.
    The route taken goes from Drumheller to Vancouver and then down through the western United States and into Mexico. In total, they have walked over 6 million steps, or 4,800 kilometres combined.
    “They did great. I could not believe how far some of them have walked. Our original goal was to walk, collectively to Vancouver. After the first week, we were already almost in Vancouver, so we kept on walking. We are now past San Diego and into Mexico,” said Rose Poulsen, Seniors Coordinator for the Town of Drumheller.
    To help record how many steps they took, seniors were given pedometers, courtesy of Alberta Health Services. Roughly 50 seniors signed up.
    In addition to their regular walks, they also met every Monday at the Badlands Community Facility (BCF) to walk together. There, they walked, stretched, and learned about the benefits of walking and staying active.
    “It can be a free and really easy way to get some activity in each day. The goal is to aim for 10,000 steps per day. Having a pedometer really makes you aware how little you moved during the day. It’s about getting as many steps in per day,” said Poulsen.
    To celebrate their achievement, the walkers will be holding a wrap-up party.
    “We’re going to have a bit of a wrap-up get together and let everyone know how we did. We were thinking, because we’ll be in Mexico, to add a bit of flair to our celebrations,” said Poulsen.
    The wrap-up takes place on Monday, February 25, at 9 a.m.

Janet Wiebe (left), Bonnie Bellrose, Victoria Leonhardt, Marjorie Russell, and Dan Hird Sr. walk around the track at the Badlands Community Facility as part of a walking program. Seniors were given pedometers and asked to record their steps per day. Those numbers were then collected and converted to kilometres. The seniors have walked 6 million steps and over 4,800 kilometres combined.