Fourth edition ready to ride, roll & walk!
OTTAWA, April 4, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - On Sunday, May 6 the CN Cycle for the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) will use downtown Ottawa as its backdrop when cyclists, in-line skaters and walkers gather to raise funds for kids with cancer. All of the action will take place at the Canadian War Museum on the Ottawa River Parkway and once again participants will be treated to beautiful scenic routes that only our Nation's Capital can offer.
The CN Cycle for CHEO has raised $1,755,783 over the last three years, with all of those funds used to help kids with cancer.
One of the highlights for participants is the fully supported routes that have been set up to further enhance the urban cycling experience. All routes begin and end at the Canadian War Museum and will take riders along the Ottawa River Parkway, Queen Elizabeth Driveway, through the Central Experimental Farm, downtown streets and the Rockcliffe Parkway.
Lebreton Flats adjacent to the Canadian War Museum also provides an amazing environment for the numerous family activities and entertainment that participants have come to expect.
Sean Finn, Executive Vice President, Corporate Services, and Chief Legal Officer at CN, said: "At CN, we believe the best way to build strong communities is by promoting and safeguarding the health of our young people. We are extremely proud to support the CN Cycle for CHEO and raise funds that will help CHEO continue to provide world-class oncology care to children with cancer across Eastern Ontario.
"We invite the population to join the great number of CN employees and their families who take part in the event each year."
All money raised at the CN Cycle for CHEO will go to help kids with cancer. CHEO is the main beneficiary, with a portion of proceeds also going to Candlelighters and Ronald McDonald House.
"We are very excited about this year's edition of the CN Cycle for CHEO. CN is back as our title sponsor and we are back at our incredible location on the Ottawa River Parkway," says Kevin Keohane, COO at the CHEO Foundation. "Our incentive prizes are fantastic and one lucky participant is going to win a new car. For every $250 raised in pledges, participants over the age of 18 get a ballot entered into the draw for a brand new 2012 Ford Fiesta from Jim Keay Ford Lincoln. Other prizes include airfare for two from Air Canada and Tommy & Lefebvre gift cards."
CN Cycle is not a competitive race however, the most ambitious participants can take part in the Ericsson 70K Cycle or the Coughlin & Associates 35K Cycle. Esso is sponsoring the 15K Cycle and In-line Skate and PSAC is sponsoring the 5K and 2K Walks.
The Ericsson 70K Cycle will start at 8:30 a.m. followed by the Coughlin & Associates 35K Cycle at 9 a.m. At 9:45 a.m., just before the start of the Esso 15K Cycle & In-line Skate, the "Tribute to Tori's Angels" ceremony will be held. At the age of nine, Tori lost her courageous battle with cancer. "It's a fitting tribute. 'Tori's Angels' serves as a memorial to Tori and all of the kids who have fought their battle but have sadly passed away from this disease," says Keohane. "That's why we all gather together, to raise money to do all we can for children and youth in our region who find themselves battling cancer." The PSAC 2 and 5K walks will start at 10:15 a.m.
Anyone wanting to support the CN Cycle for CHEO can register online or download a pledge form at www.cncycle.ca.
There are three pre-event registration opportunities at the Canadian War Museum;
Fri, May 4, 3 - 8 p.m. Sat. May 5, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sunday, May 6, 7 - 10 a.m.
Participants are reminded to bring completed and signed pledge forms and pledges when they register. The fee is $40 per participant, $20 for youth 14 and under. All registered participants will receive a bib that will entitle them to enjoy the walking or cycling events and food. As a bonus, all registered participants automatically qualify to win airfare for two to any Air Canada destination. Participants can register as individuals or work with colleagues, friends, teams, or associations to form teams to have fun together in the Ottawa Citizen Team Challenge.
Those unable to participate can support the McDonald's Dream Team, three inspiring CHEO cancer patients representing the thousands of patients who rely on CHEO each and every day! You can pledge online at www.cncycle.ca or call 613-737-7979.
Upon finishing the routes, there will be plenty of fun activities for people of all ages in the Majic 100 Family Fun Zone including the Cowguys Comedy Show, Craz-E-Crew Extreme Sports Thrill Show, face painters, family BBQ (by donation), slides for the kids, Little Ray's Reptiles, magic show by Circus Delights, moon bouncer, and a petting zoo.
A special wrap-up, awards and cheque presentation will be held at noon. We invite everyone, including our friends in the media to attend this exciting event in support of kids with cancer.
About the CHEO Foundation
The sole purpose of the CHEO Foundation is to raise funds to help support the work of the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. Donations help the hospital provide a wide variety of pediatric programs, research, state-of the art equipment, medical and nursing education, and assistance for families in crisis.
In the early 1960s, a group of concerned citizens in Ottawa formed a committee with the purpose of establishing a children's hospital in the community. It was no easy task to convince governments and ministries to help fund a children's hospital in Ottawa, but the committee persevered with the enthusiastic support of the community. This committee formed the base for the present CHEO Foundation, which was incorporated in 1974.
By the time CHEO opened its doors in 1974, the volunteer fundraisers had overcome numerous obstacles, and more than $4 million had been donated by the local community - a truly significant amount especially for that time.
Each year, the Foundation holds the CHEO Telethon on CTV, which is part of the North-America wide Children's Miracle Network. All funds raised locally benefit CHEO. Other events and lotteries such as CN Cycle for CHEO, the Dream of a Lifetime Lottery and The We All Win Lottery, bring important support to CHEO. Community organizers support CHEO through more than 200 events each year, ranging from corporate and private dances, barbecues, and sports tournaments. Significant funds are also raised through annual giving and bequests.
Frederick M. Bartlett is the current President and CEO of the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Foundation. Mr. Bartlett was the former Vice President of Telesat Canada and served as Chair of the United Way Campaign in 1993.
The Foundation is managed by a Board of Directors comprised of community leaders, the President and CEO of the Foundation, the CEO of the Hospital, a Chair, and representatives of the hospital staff and volunteer association.
About CN
CN - Canadian National Railway Company and its operating railway subsidiaries - spans Canada and mid-America, from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to the Gulf of Mexico, serving the ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert, B.C., Montreal, Halifax, New Orleans, and Mobile, Ala., and the key metropolitan areas of Toronto, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Duluth, Minn./Superior, Wis., Green Bay, Wis., Minneapolis/St. Paul, Memphis, and Jackson, Miss., with connections to all points in North America. For more information on CN, visit the company's website at www.cn.ca.
For CN
Media
Mark Hallman
Director
Communications & Public Affairs
(905) 669-3384
For CHEO Foundation
Len Hanes
Director
Communications
(613) 737-2784
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