Media Advisory - General Mills Canada and Canada Post mount "Cheer"ful
campaign to support Canada's Olympians and Paralympians

TORONTO , Oct. 2 /CNW/ - With the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games less than six months away, Canadian athletes are pushing themselves to the limit to prepare. As grueling training sessions lengthen and stressful qualifying competitions loom for Canada's Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, they need to know that their fellow Canadians are supporting them every step of the way.

On October 6 , Torontonians will have the opportunity to send their collective good wishes to our Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls through a very special "Cheer," courtesy of General Mills Canada and Canada Post. On this day, families, friends and fans are invited to gather at Yonge-Dundas Square to write encouraging messages on Cheer postcards to Canada's Olympic and Paralympic Teams. They will also witness the unveiling of the Cheer wall - a free-standing structure housing hundreds of encouraging messages from fans to their favourite athletes.

Some of Canada's finest Olympians and Paralympians will be on-hand for a meet-and-greet and to receive words of encouragement from hundreds of supporters. They will be joined by representatives from Canada Post and General Mills.

Members of the media are invited to join the celebration. Interviews and photo ops include:

    
    -  Canada's finest: Interview opportunities with some of Canada's finest
       Olympians and Paralympians along with Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls,
       including:
       -  Josh Cassidy, Paralympic Wheelchair Racing
       -  Carol Huynh, Wrestling
       -  Cheryl Pounder, Ice Hockey
       -  Veronika Bauer, Freestyle Skiing: Aerials
       -  Vicky Sunohara, Ice Hockey

    -  Cheer Wall: Visit the seven foot Cheerios Cheer wall, displaying
       hundreds of encouraging personal hand-written messages to our athletes

    -  Cheer Cards: Write your own Cheer postcard and send it to your
       favourite athlete to motivate them along the way

    When:  Tuesday, October 6, 2009
           11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

    Where: Yonge-Dundas Square
    

For further information: or to secure an interview, please contact: Sandra DeCarvalho, Optimum Public Relations, Toronto, P: [phone], E: [email protected]