Media advisory - Star athletes take up the challenge for the neediest - They
will attempt to climb the 1,000 steps of Place Ville-Marie in record time

MONTREAL , Nov. 23 /CNW Telbec/ - November 25, 2009 at 11:30 a.m. will mark the start of the 12th Annual RBC Challenge for Centraide, a frenetic race to the top of one of Montreal's tallest buildings to raise money for the neediest.

Sports personalities will compete against some 500 corporate employees in a relay race against the clock up the 1,000 steps to the summit of Place Ville Marie. Their challenge is to best the existing record of 2 minutes 41 seconds.

    
    The media are invited to witness this exciting event:

    DAY:     Wednesday, November 25, 2009

    TIME:    11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

    PLACE:   1 Place Ville Marie
             (Main entrance on University Street. Assembly point on the main
             floor, south side, opposite René-Lévesque Blvd.)
    

The athletes who will take up this challenge are: Virginie Chénier (archery), Stéphanie Dubois (tennis), Sandra Lizé (water polo), Marie-Ève Marleau (diving) and Sandra Sassine (fencing). Paralympic athlete Lyne Tremblay (archery) will serve as the team's coach.

Michèle Thibodeau-DeGuire, President and Executive Director of Centraide of Greater Montreal , and Micheline Martin , President, Quebec Region, RBC Royal Bank, will be available for interviews.

All the proceeds from the sponsors of this sporting event will be donated to Centraide, which is aiming to raise $54 million by December 15 in order to support 360 community agencies that help 500,000 needy people in Greater Montreal .

For further information: Annick Gagnon, Centraide of Greater Montreal, [phone], ext. 242, [email protected]