New grants now available to help cover the cost of adapted sports equipment for people with a disability

Petro-Canada proud sponsor of the Canadian Paralympic Committee's 2012-13 Para-Equipment Fund

OTTAWA, Jan. 25, 2012 /CNW/ - The Canadian Paralympic Committee invites Canadian sport organizations to apply for the 2012-13 granting round of the Para-Equipment Fund, presented by Petro-Canada, a Suncor Energy business, and supported by the Government of Canada's Sport Support Program.

The Para-Equipment Fund delivers grants of up to $5,000 to national sport organizations and provincial and local-level clubs to purchase adapted equipment - for sports such as wheelchair basketball, sledge hockey or sit-skiing, for example - to enable people with a disability to participate in sport.

Grants are awarded to cover 50 per cent of the total cost of the equipment. The applicant is responsible for covering the other 50 per cent of the equipment costs.

"We're extremely proud to support this grassroots initiative and help sport organizations cover the cost of adapted sports equipment. This will enable more Canadians with a disability to have the opportunity to participate in sport," said Steven Keith of Petro-Canada, a long-time partner of the Canadian Paralympic Committee and presenting sponsor of the Para-Equipment Fund. "It's very rewarding to know these funds are being used to purchase needed items of equipment that will be well-used by keen participants."

Applications for the 2012-13 Para-Equipment Fund will be accepted starting today, January 25, 2012. The deadline to submit applications is February 29, 2012.

Please visit www.paralympic.ca/funding for the application form and more information. An optional interactive webinar on the application process is scheduled for Monday Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. EST. To register, email [email protected].

Henry Storgaard, CEO of the Canadian Paralympic Committee, acknowledged the importance of the Para-Equipment Fund within the Canadian sport system.

"The Canadian Paralympic Committee is very pleased to be able to offer funding for adapted sports equipment through the Para-Equipment Fund," said Storgaard. "We're grateful to both Petro-Canada and the Government of Canada for making this grassroots level support possible, enabling more Canadians with a disability to participate in sport. The Para-Equipment Fund is an empowering, essential complement to our high performance initiatives."

About the Para-Equipment Fund (PEF)

The Para-Equipment Fund was launched in 2005 by the Canadian Paralympic Committee with the help of the Government of Canada and Petro-Canada, a Suncor Energy business. Grants are awarded to cover 50 per cent of the total cost of the equipment up to a maximum of $5,000. The applicant is responsible for covering the other 50 per cent of the equipment costs. In 2011-2012, the Fund awarded a total of $116,670 in grants for both summer and winter sports, bringing the total equipment investment to $233,340.

About Suncor Energy, proud owner of Petro-Canada

Suncor Energy Inc. is Canada's premier integrated energy company. Suncor's operations include oil sands development and upgrading, conventional and offshore oil and gas production, petroleum refining, and product marketing under the Petro-Canada brand. While working to responsibly develop petroleum resources, Suncor is also developing a growing renewable energy portfolio. Suncor's common shares (symbol: SU) are listed on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges. For more information about Suncor Energy Inc., please visit www.suncor.com.

About the Canadian Paralympic Committee

The Canadian Paralympic Committee is a non-profit, private organization with 46 member sports organizations dedicated to strengthening the Paralympic movement. The Canadian Paralympic Committee's vision is to be the world's leading Paralympic nation. Its mission is to lead the development of a sustainable Paralympic sport system in Canada to enable athletes to reach the podium at the Paralympic Games. By supporting Canadian Paralympic athletes and promoting their success, the Canadian Paralympic Committee inspires all Canadians with a disability to get involved in sport through programs delivered by its member organizations. For more information, visit www.paralympic.ca.

Alison Korn
Manager, Media Relations
Canadian Paralympic Committee
Tel: [phone] ext. 243
Cell: 613-298-4927
[e-mail]

Laura Ferris
Coordinator, Recruitment Program Support
Canadian Paralympic Committee
Tel: [phone] x233
[e-mail]

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