MEDIA ADVISORY - VANCOUVER'S BUSINESS ELITE TO BE BANISHED TO 'EXILE ISLAND'

British Columbia's inaugural Exile Island event to raise funds for The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada

VANCOUVER, Sept. 20 /CNW/ - You are invited to join us Wednesday, September 22 when ten prominent members of local business, political, entertainment, and community groups will become castaways and be banished to 'Exile Island' in an effort to raise funds for Children's Wish.

The event challenges participants to raise $10,000 each, as well as prepare for banishment to 'Exile Island', aka the Vancouver Art Gallery.

Armed with little more than Blackberrys, cell phones and their natural instincts, 10 rivals will be pitted against each other in a variety of mental, physical and creative challenges in an effort to 'Outsmart, Outplay and Outpledge" and gain bragging rights as this year's Exile Island champion while gathering donations and pledges from calling friends, family and colleagues.

This is the first ever Exile Island event to be held in British Columbia.  Upwards of $100,000 is expected to be raised at the event. Previous Exile Island events have been held in Nova Scotia, Alberta and Manitoba; raising over $1.7 million for The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada. 

Who:	Children's Wish Foundation BC & Yukon Chapter Ten Wish Children and their families John Furlong, CEO, VANOC Dave Babych, Alumni, Vancouver Canucks Mashiah Vaughn, Model/Actress Richard Stewart, Mayor of Coquitlam Lynda Pasacreta, President, Better Business Bureau Mainland BC Ian Speckman, Dealer Principal, Maple Ridge Chrysler Anne McMullin, President, North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce Joe Heilman, Owner, Heilman Renovations Dr. Christine Loock, Pediatrician, BC Children's Hospital Cord Reisdorf, Owner, Peak Fitness Management
When:	Wednesday, September 22, 2010 12:00 pm - 12:30 pm:  Media interview opportunities 12:30 pm - 1:00 pm: Media photo opportunities 1:00 pm: Opening Ceremonies hosted by John Furlong, CEO, VANOC 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm: Exile Island Challenges
Where:	Vancouver Art Gallery (AKA Exile Island), 750 Hornby Street Vancouver, BC

The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada 

Each year, thousands of Canadian children between the ages of 3 and 17 are diagnosed with a life threatening illness.  Since 1984, The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada has worked tirelessly to grant exceptional wishes to more than 16,000 children and their families. This year, the Foundation expects to grant 1,000 new wishes. The Foundation has never refused a wish to an eligible child, and with the help of volunteers and generous donors, is able to grant nearly three wishes every day.  Each wish is an individual adventure, carefully structured to meet the needs of a particular child and family.  For information on Children's Wish, visit www.childrenswish.ca.

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