Ontario cyclists raise $200,000 to support kids with cancer

- Ride for Karen, an annual charity cycling event, has raised more than $2 million to help send children with cancer to camp -

TORONTO, Sept. 9, 2013 /CNW/ - Hundreds of cyclists took to the roads north of Toronto on September 8 to help send children with cancer to camp at the 12^th annual Ride for Karen. This year's ride raised $200,000, which will go directly to making a difference in the lives of children battling cancer.

The charity cycling event is held each year as a tribute to the life and legacy of Karen Tobias who passed away at 53 years of age after a five-year battle with breast cancer. Karen's sons, Kirk and Kris Tobias, created the premiere cycling event as a celebration of her commitment to helping others. Support from cyclists from across Ontario and presenting sponsor Scotiabank have helped to raise more than $2 million to help build and furnish new cancer care facilities, provide much needed resources for cancer support centres and send kids with cancer to camp.

"Supporting the communities is at the heart of Scotiabank's Bright Future philanthropic program," says Phil Smith, Scotiabank's Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Global Banking & Markets. "The Ride for Karen has become a tradition for many of our employees who are honouring loved ones touched by cancer. We are proud to continue our support of the Ride for Karen and the hope it brings to children living with cancer".

"It truly takes a village to make this volunteer-run event possible and we are so thankful for the support we receive each year from Scotiabank, event sponsors, volunteers, local and provincial police," says Ride for Karen co-founder Kirk Tobias. "Our mother's desire to inspire hope in those battling cancer has inspired Ride for Karen participants to do the same, giving kids living with cancer the chance to experience the joy of going to camp."

The funds raised from Ride for Karen are donated to Camp Quality, Camp Oochigeas and Camp Trillium to provide year-round support programs for children with cancer and their families. Approximately 1,500 children are diagnosed with cancer each year in Canada and another 10,000 are already living with cancer or its long-term effects.

About Ride for Karen

Started in 2002, Ride for Karen is an annual cycling event that is held as a tribute to the life and legacy of Karen Tobias and to raise money for charities that help people living with cancer, and those who care for them. Over the past 12 years, Ride for Karen has raised over $2 million which has been used to help build and furnish new cancer care facilities, provide much needed resources for cancer support centres and send kids with cancer to camp.

About Scotiabank

Scotiabank is committed to supporting the communities in which we live and work, both in Canada and abroad, through our global philanthropic program, Bright Future.  Recognized as a leader internationally and among Canadian corporations for our charitable donations and philanthropic activities, Scotiabank has provided on average approximately $47 million annually to community causes around the world over each of the last five years. Visit us at www.scotiabank.com.

SOURCE: Scotiabank

Laura Arlabosse-Stewart / Tracey Bochner
Paradigm Public Relations
416-203-2223
[email protected] / [email protected]

Nadine Jahangir
Scotiabank Media Communications
416-933-2927
[email protected]