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Transplant recipients hand out popcorn to show appreciation for Lions Gate Hospital staff

Event part of annual Operation Popcorn program
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Several transplant recipients popped by Lions Gate Hospital with a sweet and savoury gift of appreciation on Friday.

Lung Transplant recipient and North Vancouver resident Margaret Benson, leading a team of other BC Transplant volunteers, gave thanks to health-care staff at the hospital with gift boxes of popcorn, part of the 28th annual Operation Popcorn program.

During Operation Popcorn more than 100 BC Transplant volunteers delivered boxes of the salty snack to health-care teams in 26 hospitals across the province.

The special delivery started at 10:30 a.m. yesterday.

Benson celebrated the 20-year anniversary of her double lung transplant on Dec. 1. She received a life-saving kidney transplant from her brother just three months ago, according to a press release from BC Transplant.

Benson has braved incredible odds. As a cystic fibrosis patient she was told she wouldn’t make it page 15 years old – and at the time of her lung transplant, at age 40, she was told she would only live five more years, according to the release.

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Source: photo supplied Brian Benson

Since then, the former beloved North Shore teacher and Zumba instructor has competed in 14 Canadian and World Transplant Games and has won 58 medals.

This is year 17th year participating in Operation Popcorn, according to the release.