Cape woman honored for her volunteer work

Officials had nothing but praise for Rose Shafer of Cape Girardeau, who was recently honored as an Outstanding Volunteer of the Year by the American Lung Association of Eastern Missouri. The award was announced at the group's second annual Circle of Hope Breakfast at the Junior League of St. Louis recently.

"Rose has been an instrumental part of our success with an American Lung Association program for schools focused on educating grade school children with asthma called 'Open Airways for Schools,'" said Nicole Thieret, southeast regional manager for the American Lung Association of Eastern Missouri.

"She is constantly willing to help in any way and is really a role model for any volunteer."

Shafer is clinical director of the Respiratory Therapy Program at the Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center. She is also a respiratory therapist at Saint Francis Medical Center. Shafer has been volunteering for the American Lung Association for two years.

Implementing programs

She and her respiratory students implemented Open Airways for Schools in eight elementary schools in Southeast Missouri this past spring. Shafer hopes to expand the program to include more schools this coming school year and implement the American Lung Association's Teens Against Tobacco Use Program, a mentoring program where teens teach younger children about the ills of tobacco.

Shafer and her students have also volunteered with the American Lung Association's Camp Superkids, a week-long residential summer camp program for children with asthma held at the YMCA's Camp Lakewood near Potosi. She also serves as District 5 President for the Missouri Society for Respiratory Care.

"Through the dedicated efforts of our volunteers and donors we are able to pursue our mission of preventing lung disease and promoting lung health throughout Eastern Missouri," said Lori C. Pickens, CEO of the American Lung Association of Eastern Missouri. "Although our work is never done, the tireless efforts of our volunteers make it possible to expand our programs and services to even more people who need our attention."

The mission of the American Lung Association of Eastern Missouri is to prevent lung disease and promote lung health through education, advocacy and research in the area of asthma, tobacco use, air quality and other lung diseases such as tuberculosis.