Ken Diebel is a World War II Veteran and is an honoured member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 202. He has served the Legion for many years in different capacities. In 2014 he will have served as a member of the Royal Canadian Legion for 68 years. What a great role model he is! One of his pet projects is the Pop Tabs For Wheelchairs.

    Jack Baumer started the program at the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 229 in Elora. By collecting pop tabs, Legions are able to turn in the aluminum and receive the funds from selling the aluminum. Jack said in 1999 that 1,000 tabs weighed a pound. At that time he received only $0.50 a pound. It took approximately 2 tons of tabs to pay for a new wheelchair. Those small tabs accumulate, and at market value, the proceeds are used to buy new wheel­chairs. Some of the wheelchairs are very individualized, as each wheelchair has to be designed and fitted for its user. The pop tab program has also paid for special beds for ALS patients and stationary walkers and walkers on wheels.

    Branch 202 started their Pop Tab Campaign under John Knowles. Ken was able to assist John, and by December of 1998 they had delivered over 1,000 pounds of tabs to Elora. Ken has taken over the campaign from John, and he continues to make sure our Pop Tabs reach the Elora Legion.

    We have been fortunate to have members of the public aid us in our quest for tabs; for example, in November 2008, Jonathan Broadfoot brought the pop tabs he had collected to our Legion.

    By November 2013 the Pop Tab Campaign had purchased 1,733 Wheelchairs.

    Once again Ken is ready to head to Elora to turn in our pop tabs. Thank you Ken for a wonderful and important cause.

    To contact our Legion, visit our website at lionsheadlegionbranch202.ca