General Rick Hillier (ret.) and 15,000 Canadians in 28 cities take on the fight against prostate cancer for the annual TELUS Motorcycle Ride For Dad

OTTAWA, April 24, 2013 /CNW/ -  On roads right across Canada, more than 15,000 motorcycle riders will take part this spring in raising funds for prostate cancer research and awareness. The TELUS Motorcycle Ride For Dad has launched their 2013 fundraising campaign with rides in 28 Canadian cities.

"Prostate cancer affects one in seven men and can be treated successfully when it's detected early," says General Rick Hillier (ret.). "The TELUS Ride For Dad raises funds and awareness for this important cause. Not only is the Ride out there raising millions of dollars, they're doing it in the coolest way possible—riding motorcycles in cities right across Canada. Together, we are changing lives."

"The TELUS Ride For Dad isn't the type of event you're likely to see every day," said Garry Janz, president, Ride For Dad. "Seeing hundreds to thousands of riders parade through town on their bikes is a great way to open up a public discussion on prostate cancer testing, a topic most men find uncomfortable talking about. The ride gets that dialogue going; men talking about it and women talking to men about it. Because of that awareness, countless men have gone to their doctors to undergo testing and many of them have been diagnosed early and successfully treated!"

The Ride For Dad began in June 2000 with one motorcycle event in Ottawa. That year just 80 riders participated in the first event, raising $20,000. It was on the backs and bikes of thousands of dedicated volunteers, participants and donors that a powerful movement was created, soon stretching across Canada and raising more than $10 million in 13 years. TELUS, a longtime strong supporter of the Ride For Dad, is the title sponsor of the events.

"The Ride For Dad is an amazing event that, like TELUS, gives where they live, with all proceeds staying in the communities where the funds were raised to help support local prostate cancer research and awareness," said Dave Wattling, vice-president of TELUS Health. "We are so proud to support this vital cause that affects so many men and their families and we can't wait to see all those bikes on the road helping to fight prostate cancer!"

www.RideForDad.ca

2013 Ride Dates

PROV	CITY	2013
BC	Comox Valley	June 8
BC	Northern BC (Prince George)	June 15
BC	Okanagan	June 9
AB	Calgary	June 15
AB	Edmonton	June 8
AB	Rural Alberta (Olds)	June 22
SK	Saskatoon	June 15
SK	Swift Current	June 8
MB	Manitoba (Winnipeg)	May 25
ON	Durham	June 8
ON	Golden Horseshoe (Hamilton)	June 15
ON	Grand River (Kitchener)	June 1
ON	Huronia (Barrie)	May 25
ON	Kingston-Quinte	May 26
ON	London	May 26
ON	Niagara	June 1
ON	Nipissing (North Bay)	June 15
ON	Ottawa	June 1
ON	Toronto West (Peel)	June 8
ON	Windsor	May 26
QC	Montreal	May 25
NB	Fredericton	June 1
NB	Moncton	June 1
NB	Saint John	June 1
PEI	PEI (Charlottetown)	June 15
NS	Halifax	June 1
NL	Avalon (St. John's)	June 15
YK	Yukon (Whitehorse)	June 8

 

SOURCE: TELUS Corporation

Media inquiries:
Kelly Goulet
National Communications Manager
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613-722-6131
613-447-6412