Canadian Blood Services and ING DIRECT launch #Climb4Cord
TORONTO, June 10, 2013 /CNW/ - For the nearly 1,000 Canadians waiting for a stem cell match, each day is an uphill battle. It's a fight that Canadian Blood Services knows all too well.
Today, Canadian Blood Services and ING DIRECT are launching the #Climb4Cord campaign, with the goal of raising $500,000 to go towards the $12.5 million needed by Canadian Blood Services to help build a national public cord blood bank.
"I liken the 19,000-foot climb to Africa's highest peak to the uphill battle patients face waiting for a stem cell match," said Dr. Graham Sher, CEO of Canadian Blood Services and #Climb4Cord team lead. "#Climb4Cord is a fundraising climb to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro to raise public awareness and funds for a public cord blood bank, and I am delighted that with ING DIRECT, we are reaching new heights together."
In January, Canadian Blood Services launched the $12.5 million For All Canadians fundraising campaign to build a national public cord blood bank. Umbilical cords, which are currently discarded after childbirth, are a rich source of stem cells that can provide renewed life for many patients who are waiting for an unrelated stem cell match. Canada is the only G8 country without a national public cord blood bank.
ING DIRECT is supporting the campaign For All Canadians through #Climb4Cord. The bank has provided a $100,000 donation and in-kind sponsorship. ING DIRECT's Head of Social Media, Jaime Stein, will be joining the climb. Stein will be active on social media throughout the trek using a DeLorme inReach satellite device. #Climb4Cord will take place in August 2013.
"Establishing a national cord blood bank is vital to the future of Canadian healthcare. We are excited to support Canadian Blood Services to help raise funds and build awareness for this cause," said Peter Aceto, president and CEO, ING DIRECT. "Giving of both our resources and time is a cornerstone of our philanthropic efforts, and we hope our contribution will impact the success of the #Climb4Cord campaign."
The Canadian Blood Services #Climb4Cord Team consists of 25 climbers and includes members of the Canadian Blood Services family, senior business executives from supporting organizations, and campaign supporters. The goal of #Climb4Cord is to raise $250,000 in personal fundraising, and $250,000 in sponsorship. Each climber will cover their own expenses. All proceeds will go directly to support the For All Canadians campaign. To donate, please go to http://cbs.kintera.org/climb4cord. Donors can direct their support to individual climbers.
For All Canadians donations will be matched by the provincial and territorial governments outside of Quebec. The governments will also provide the balance of the $48-million project and operational costs.
| Media Event and Photo Op | ||||||
| What: | Official launch of the #Climb4Cord campaign | |||||
| Who: | Canadian Blood Services CEO Dr. Graham Sher | |||||
| ING DIRECT president & CEO Peter Aceto | ||||||
| Karen Dykstra, mother of eight-year-old Alysha, who was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia and received a cord blood transplant in 2009 |
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| Several of the 25 climbers participating in the climb, including Jaime Stein | ||||||
| Where: | ING DIRECT Café | |||||
| 221 Yonge St., Toronto (southeast corner of Yonge & Shuter) | ||||||
| Date: | June 10, 2013 | |||||
| Time: | 1 - 2 pm | |||||
About Canadian Blood Services
Canadian Blood Services is a national, not-for-profit charitable organization that manages the supply of blood and blood products in all provinces and territories outside of Quebec. Canadian Blood Services also oversees the OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network, and provides national leadership for organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Canadian Blood Services operates 42 permanent collection sites and more than 20,000 donor clinics annually. The provincial and territorial Ministries of Health provide operational funding to Canadian Blood Services. The federal government, through Health Canada, is responsible for regulating the blood system.
Follow us on Twitter #Climb4Cord.
About ING DIRECT
ING Bank of Canada, operating under the trade name of ING DIRECT, is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Bank of Nova Scotia. ING DIRECT is Canada's leading direct bank with over 1.8 million Clients and close to $40 billion in total assets. ING DIRECT is a bright way forward in everyday banking for Canadians, offering value added, simple products such as high interest savings accounts, including TFSAs, GICs and RSPs with no fees or service charges, low rates on mortgages and a no-fee, daily chequing account that actually pays interest. ING DIRECT has been operating in Canada since 1997, and has paid more than $5 billion in interest to Clients. ING DIRECT is open for banking 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at ingdirect.ca, on mobile devices at m.ingdirect.ca or by calling 1-800 ING DIRECT (1-800-464-3473).
ING Bank of Canada and its subsidiaries have been acquired by The Bank of Nova Scotia and are no longer affiliated with ING Groep N.V. The trademarks ING, ING DIRECT, ING Lion, the ING Lion logo and any derivation, variation, translation or adaptation thereof are trademarks of ING Groep N.V. and are used under license.
SOURCE: ING DIRECT
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Janet Wong, Communications Specialist
Canadian Blood Services
Ph: 416-313-4410
Cell: 416-420-0199
[email protected]
Jessica Bianchi, Public Relations Coordinator
ING DIRECT
Ph: 416-497-5157 ex 4453
Cell: 647-285-7614
[email protected]
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