OTTAWA, April 12, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - On Sunday, May 5th, cyclists, walkers and in-line skaters will take part in the CN Cycle for the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). The beautiful grounds of the Canadian War Museum and scenic routes through downtown Ottawa and beyond will once again provide an amazing experience for participants as they cycle, walk and roll to raise funds to help kids with cancer.
The CN Cycle for CHEO has raised $2,408,282 over the last four years, with all of those funds used to help kids with cancer.
Participants will once again be riding on 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 Sir John A Macdonald 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 a wonderful environment for the numerous family activities and entertainment that participants have come to expect.
Claude Mongeau, president and chief executive officer of CN, said: "CN is very committed to giving back to the communities where we operate to make them better places to live and work. CN tries to do this in many ways. One of the best ways we have and one we are the fondest of is promoting and safeguarding children's health. We invite everyone to join the great number of CN employees and their families who take part in the CN Cycle for CHEO 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 so thrilled that our incredible title sponsor CN is back and we are looking forward to another exciting event on May 5th," says Cheryl Hammond, VP of corporate development "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 2013 Ford Fiesta from Jim Keay Ford Lincoln. Other prizes include airfare for two from Air Canada and Loblaws 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, Royal Lepage Team Realty is the 5 K Walk sponsor and Gale Realty is sponsoring the 2K Walk.
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 Hammond. "It's an important part of this wonderful event that raises money to help the children and youth who are battling cancer." The Gale Realty 2K Walk and the Royal Lepage Team Realty 5K walk will both 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 3, 3 - 8 p.m. Sat. May 4, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sunday, May 5, 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. Please note that thanks to additional sponsorship the registration fees will no longer be required above and beyond your fundraising dollars. Your registration fee will be waived if you raise a minimum of $40 per adult and $20 per child.
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.
Kevin Keohane is the current President and CEO of the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Foundation. 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.
SOURCE: CN
For CN
Louis-Antoine Paquin
Regional Manager, Public and
Government Affairs, Eastern Canada
Office: 514 399-6450
Mobile: 514 971-6450
For CHEO Foundation
Len Hanes
Director of Communications and Annual Giving
CHEO Foundation
Office: 613 737-2784
Mobile: 613 447-2741
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