MEDIA ADVISORY - The Toronto Wheelchair Relay Challenge

Pull Up a Chair and Get Moving!

TORONTO, Sept. 16 /CNW/ - For the 15th year, the Canadian Paraplegic Association Ontario is holding our fun-filled Toronto Wheelchair Relay Challenge. The event is for people with and without disabilities to raise funds for programs and services for people with spinal cord injuries as they re-build their lives. At the Relay there will be great potential story leads and photo opportunities. Here are a few:

    
    -   Meet Carolyn Pioro and Julie, Elisa and Samantha DeAngelis...
        Carolyn sustained her spinal cord injury falling from a circus
        trapeze five years ago. She comes to give the opening address to
        participants and brings her circus friends - the performing DeAngelis
        sisters from A2D2 - to provide entertainment after the race.

    -   Meet our Volunteers...
        Having a spinal cord injury is a life-changing experience and it is a
        huge benefit to have some one to talk to who has been there; done
        that. Our volunteers are not only people who have spinal cord
        injuries helping others with spinal cord injuries, but family
        members, too.

    -   The Wild Wheeled Women...
        Six women get together every Thursday night and Sunday afternoon to
        work-out, talk about nutrition and support one another in every
        healthy way possible. Together they have lost over 125 pounds. Each
        happens to use a wheelchair. The Wild Wheeled Women team is getting
        together to show their stuff at the race.

    When:   This Sunday, September 19th - 9:30 am until 12pm.
    Where:  Yorkdale Shopping Centre in the north-east parking lot.
    Why:
            -   A spinal cord injury can happen to anyone at any time.
            -   There is approximately one spinal cord injury a day in
                Ontario.
            -   The highest incidence of injury is to individuals in the age
                range of 20-29 and also, to those over 70 years of age.
            -   It is estimated that 90% of what we know about spinal cord
                injury has been discovered in the last 20 years.
    

Who We Are:

Canadian Paraplegic Association Ontario's mission is to assist people with spinal cord injuries and other physical disabilities to achieve independence, self-reliance and full community participation. Since 1945, CPA Ontario has provided programs and services to people with a spinal cord injury including community service coordination, peer to peer support, employment services, attendant services, advocacy support, membership services and information services.

For further information: Media Contact: Gillian Lynne-Davies, Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Canadian Paraplegic Association Ontario, (T) 416-422-5644 x 212, (C) 416-671-3189, Email: [email protected]