A Merry Gretzky Christmas

For generations, Canadians have been celebrating the holidays with family and friends. And for generations, Canadians have been sending out Christmas Seals with their holiday greetings and gifts as a way of showing how much they care.

Canada's favourite hockey dad, Walter Gretzky, is the 2011 Christmas Seals ambassador for the Ontario Lung Association. As the head of one of Canada's best known families, Walter and the Gretzky clan enjoy the season's holidays at the family farm outside of Brantford, Ontario. Favourite holiday traditions include a friendly game of pick up on the outdoor rink and a plate of delicious perogies, made with Walter's mom's European recipe.

The Gretzky family has been personally touched by lung disease. Phyllis Gretzky, Walter's wife of 45 years, died from lung disease in 2005. “Losing Phyllis was very, very difficult,” says Walter. “She was the glue in our family, my rock. Promoting lung health helps keep her memory alive for us. She always preferred staying in the background supporting Wayne, the family and me.

“By doing this, I get to move Phyllis to the forefront and tell people how special she was to our family.”

Since 1908, The Lung Association has produced the seals to help raise funds for its programs to improve lung health. Each year, about eight million Christmas Seals are used by Canadians to seal the back of envelopes sent out to family and friends and to decorate Christmas gifts and parcels.

Lung disease affects more than 2.4 million Ontarians. This year when your Christmas Seals arrive in the mail, it is your opportunity to give generously. For more information on Christmas Seals or lung health, visit www.on.lung.ca or call 1-866-333-4045.

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