The journey of a lifetime began in a Burnaby basement. When a group of believers in natural medicine and freedom of choice came together in an effort to save holistic medical doctors from persecution, they could not have guessed that they were laying the foundation for a unique charity that is still changing lives today, 30 years later.

Or maybe one person could have guessed: Lorna Hancock, who has been the longtime executive director and constant driving force behind HANS--Health Action Network Society--one of Canada's oldest and longest-running consumer health organizations.

"It's about loyalty. We have a special kind of membership," she says, genuine pride in her voice. "Their support has allowed HANS to be a true friend over the years to natural medicine and to various associations like the chiropractic, naturopathic and massage therapy associations. HANS has been part of the evolution of medicine across Canada."

"To me, HANS is an organization that truly makes a difference with education," says HANS supporter Brandon S. "In fact, I would go so far as to say that the education literally saves lives, and allows people to live a truly healthy lifestyle."

Rick A. another supporter, has to agree. "HANS has meant the difference between life and death to me! The attitude and willingness to question the status quo has made such a difference in my life. That statement is not exaggeration or hyperbole but simple factual truth."

A truthful beginning
Back in the 1970s, the truth was that "alternative or complementary medicine" was a dirty phrase in some circles--nowhere near as accepted as it is today. ­Acupuncture was "woo-woo" and organic wasn't mainstream. At that time, Lorna was involved in social work, collaborating with medical teams to find solutions for patients. She agreed to sign on as a volunteer with HANS for one year because it was so interesting. "One year became 33," she laughs, "I don't know where the time went."

Time has come and gone, but not the memories of all the causes--both environmental and health-oriented--and people who play a role in HANS' history.

There is a reason, for starters, why Vancouver water, like most of Europe, has never been fluoridated, and his name was Len Greenall. Although he passed away last year at 89, his instrumental work alongside HANS in the anti-water fluoridation movement, his preservation of old documentation, continues to be relevant to the communities that question the ­addition of fluoride, a toxic by-product of ­industry, to public drinking water.

In 1989, the expression "GMOs" was hardly part of the common vernacular. Yet this was the year that HANS sponsored and supported visionary Sharon Rempel to bring the first annual Seedy Saturday to life, an event that encourages bio-­diversity and highlights the importance of preserving heirloom, non-hybrid seeds. HANS received a Heritage Award from the city of Vancouver for this in 1994. Over 100 independently organized Seedy Saturday events now take place annually across Canada and in the UK.
From 1999 onwards, spurred on when then Health Minister Allan Rock proposed that natural health products (NHPs) become their own nebulous "third category" under the Food and Drug Act, HANS hosted four well-attended public forums promoting the safety and availability of NHPs. Then, as now, HANS sought to make the average consumer aware of the implications of over-regulating NHPs, an issue still very relevant to today. 

Educating a community
Food irradiation, herbicides and pesticides, alternative/complementary therapies, disease prevention, vaccinations, and electromagnetic radiation are just a handful more issues that HANS has tackled through its publications, website and public events. One of these events in 2006 hosted Dr. Dan Burke, Emeritus Professor of Pharmaceutical Metabolism, BSc, PhD, who presented information on Salvestrols as a nutrition-based therapy for cancer prevention and treatment (see page 11).

"I reckon HANS is necessary," says Dr. Burke.  "We need it, because few ­other organizations are helping the populace to know about, to understand, even to be aware about the alternative to pharmaceutical and mainstream medical help. I often call it a patient support group. When people are sick, it's a very lonely position to be in. If you are involved with HANS, you realize you're not alone."

HANS member R. O. couldn't agree more. After being "fired" by the medical professionals for having too many symptoms, "the wonderful folks at Health Action Network welcomed me, saying we would search for answers, and we did," she recalls. "We found that I did indeed have symptoms of troubled adrenal glands. My symptoms melted away by following a protocol for adrenal support, and in no time I was back to work and enjoying my usual busy lifestyle!  Thank you everyone!"

"HANS is my go-to group," says ­Denise H., who has been a member for the past five years. "I have relied on their help while I was pregnant to learn about concerns during my pregnancy. I feel confident that if I need HANS, they are always there to help me. I also rely on HANS for all the valuable information they provide throughout the year through my ­subscription."

A subscription to the quarterly Health Action magazine is one membership perk. Attending events at a discount is another. Currently, HANS sponsors between four and 10 events per year, as well as supporting other events consistent with HANS' mandate to promote awareness of natural therapeutics and freedom of choice in health care. Recently, these events have included a women's health day, a mini-conference on cancer prevention and healing, as well as events on advances in brain injury treatment, natural health product regulation, ayurveda and the toxicity of heavy metals such as mercury, commonly found in "silver" dental fillings.

Regular supporters who contribute the equivalent of a latte a month ($35/year) mingle with professional members who are listed in the HANS Wellness directory at www.hans.org, a community resource for people looking for practitioners and services. For many professionals, though, being a HANS member is about more than business. Paul L. ND RTCMP, comments, "HANS has been a continuous resource for individuals, professions and the general community, providing tools for hammering together a new, integrated medicine--medicine for the 21st ­century."

Into the future
Governed by a volunteer board of directors, staffed by a core group and assisted by hundreds of volunteer hours, HANS has been voted Burnaby's Best Community Service Organization for three years running. Although less obvious, the behind-the-scenes work executive director Lorna Hancock and other directors and volunteers have performed is just as important. It is part of the organization's original mandate and constitution to engage government at all levels. They have done this on matters ranging from ­patients' and practitioners' rights to the dangers of glass crushers in liquor stores.

Has it been easy? No, says Lorna, especially not when financial crunches inevitably seem to affect the budgets of charities and non-profits like HANS.  But for more than three decades, HANS supporters have come through time and time again, proving the fundamental value of this work.

"HANS has a long history and a bright future," says Lorna. "I wouldn't trade my life for anybody's. It has been the most amazing ride!"

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