Local Winnipeg Hearing Professionals to Help Starkey Hearing Foundation Give
Projected 6,600 Hearing Instruments to Adults and Children in Need in Toluca,
Mexico

WINNIPEG , Feb. 9 /CNW/ - Leslie Holden , Rita Sagriotis, and Kevin McNabb, today announced plans for the eight-day hearing mission trip to Toluca, Mexico projected to result in fitting more than 3,300 adults and children receiving over 6,600 hearing instruments. The hearing mission trip will be completed in conjunction with the Starkey Hearing Foundation in an effort to fulfill the Foundation's commitment to helping the world to hear.

"It is incredibly fulfilling to be a part of this hearing mission trip and to do so much good in such a short amount of time. It's also very humbling to experience the incredible need that exists in the world," said Leslie Holden , Owner of Polo Park Hearing Centre. "I feel honored to have the opportunity to bring the gift of hearing to so many in need and proud to support the Starkey Hearing Foundation in its mission," said Kevin McNabb of Grant Park Hearing. According to Kevin, not only will those in need be fitted with hearing instruments, they will also receive training on hearing instrument care, maintenance and a supply of hearing instrument batteries.

Hearing mission trips are paid for by donations to the Starkey Hearing Foundation. Every year at the Foundation's annual "So the World May Hear" Awards Gala, attendees have an opportunity to bid during a live auction to fund a hearing mission trip. A network of distributors of Starkey Canada , a division of Starkey Laboratories, bid to fund the Toluca, Mexico mission, which will take place February 21-28.

About Leslie Holden and Kevin McNabb

Leslie has been devoted to helping the public with their hearing health care needs for over 31 years. Both Leslie and Rita are dedicated and well respected amongst the hearing health care field as well as thier clientele. One of Leslie's most passionate pursuits in the hearing health care field is taking part in missions to 3rd world countries to fit children with hearing aids with the SHF. Rita is looking forward to her first mission and having the experience of giving the gift of hearing to these children.

Kevin has over 30 years experience in the industry. He has a passion for helping and not just the people in his community. He has donated his expertise, his time and his money to a very worthy cause. Each year he and his hearing health professional friends from across Canada venture to underprivileged countries to give the gift of hearing in conjunction with the SHF.

About Starkey Hearing Foundation (SHF)

Since 1973, Starkey has been giving the gift of hearing to the world's underprivileged -especially children- through its internationally recognized mission program and its domestic program, Hear Now. Our mission is to promote hearing health awareness and education; provide hearing instruments and personal listening devices to people in need, and to support and conduct research and education in hearing breakthroughs and technologies. In late 2007, SHF launched their awareness initiative via a media campaign with public service announcements to educate consumers about responsible listening. Spanning the past 12 months, the Foundation has provided more than 50,000 hearing instruments both domestically and abroad. Since 2000, more than 280,000 hearing instruments have been distributed to persons in need worldwide. Please visit www.sotheworldmayhear.org to learn more.

For further information: Chris McLennan, StarkeyLabs Canada, [phone], [email protected]