MONTREAL, May 31, 2019 /CNW/ - On Thursday, June 6, Cardiac Smash, an annual corporate ping pong challenge, will be held in Montreal's Marché Bonsecours. Nearly 150 ping pong lovers are expected to attend the event's first iteration in Montreal. The challenge, in support of Heart & Stroke, has already been a smashing success in Toronto and Vancouver.
Cardiac Smash is an initiative by Michael Kessel, a ping pong lover and member of Heart & Stroke's Ontario advisory board. Mr. Kessel excelled in the sport as a teen. When he started volunteering for the foundation, he got the idea to turn his love for table tennis into a fundraiser where companies can engage in friendly competition. The event started in Toronto, which will be hosting its fifth edition in July, then expanded to Vancouver. Last year, the events in those two major Canadian cities raised $100,000 each for Heart & Stroke.
"I am very pleased to hold the first annual Montreal Cardiac Smash Tournament. Cardiac Smash has already had great success in Toronto and Vancouver and I am very much looking forward to making it a great success in Montreal also. This is a fun and friendly ping pong challenge between corporate partners who are happy to support the Heart & Stroke Foundation. I would like to thank all of our partners for their help in making this first Montreal edition a great success," said Michael Kessel, CEO of Cleveland Clinic Canada, presenting sponsor of the event.
Participating teams are made of two to four players and can play singles or doubles. Each team is guaranteed at least four games, ensuring a fun evening raising money for a great cause.
In Canada, 90% of people have at least one risk factor for heart conditions, stroke or vascular cognitive impairment. The good news is that 80% of premature deaths from heart disease and stroke can be avoided by adopting a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise. Heart & Stroke recommends adults should accumulate at least 150 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity per week, in bouts of 10 minutes or more.
"I would like to sincerely thank Cardiac Smash for organizing this first Montreal annual challenge. We are very pleased to see so many Montreal-based organizations participating in this challenge, which benefits Heart & Stroke. Ping Pong is not only a fun activity, but it is also very beneficial for cardiac health," said Dana Ades-Landy, CEO, Quebec, at Heart & Stroke.
Cardiac Smash will be in two other cities in Canada later in the year:
Toronto, July 18, 2019: 5th Annual Corporate Ping Pong Challenge
The Rec Room Roundhouse
255 Bremner Blvd, Toronto
Vancouver, September 18, 2019: 2nd Annual Vancouver Corporate Ping Pong Challenge
The Pipe Shop
115 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver
For more information or to register a team, please visit www.cardiacsmash.com.
About Cardiac Smash
Cardiac Smash is an annual Corporate Ping Pong Challenge benefitting the Heart & Stroke Foundation. It is been held in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal. For more information, please visit: www.cardiacsmash.com.
About Heart & Stroke
Life. We don't want you to miss it. That's why Heart & Stroke leads the fight against heart disease and stroke. We must generate the next medical breakthroughs, so Canadians don't miss out on precious moments. Together, we are working to prevent disease, save lives and promote recovery through research, health promotion and public policy. heartandstroke.ca
SOURCE Heart and Stroke Foundation
Michael Kessel, President and CEO, Cleveland Clinic Canada, 416-507-6617, [email protected]; Maryse Bégin, Manager, Communications, Quebec, Heart and Stroke Foundation, 514-871-8038, ext. 20232, [email protected]
https://www.heartandstroke.ca/
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