/R E P E A T -- Canadian Doctors Give Up Their Holiday Gifts for Africa -
Physicians Trade in Material Gifts for Donations to Aid African Communities/

TORONTO, Dec. 7 /CNW/ - Dr. Vance Pegado is one Canadian doctor who doesn't want patient gifts this year.  The Burlington-based physician is giving up his holiday gifts for a worthy cause.

After many years of receiving bottles of wine and chocolates from his patients, Dr. Vance Pegado decided that this was the year to turn those material gifts into donations that would help African men, women and children in need.

This year, Dr. Pegado is giving up his holiday gifts to help fight poverty in rural Africa - and asking his patients to make a donation in support of Canadian Physicians for Aid & Relief (CPAR) instead of giving him material gifts. The doctor has set up a waiting room display in his office with postcards and posters about the campaign.

Dr. Pegado makes it clear that patients should in no way feel obliged to give but if they are planning on giving him a holiday gift this year he would rather that it be in the form of a donation to help provide African community members with some of life's most basic needs such as clean water, secure livelihoods, adequate and nutritious foods, safe sanitation and a healthy environment.

"Helping others is part of me," says Dr. Pegado.  "With this genuine motivation in my practice, many patients are bound to feel the same.  For those who wish to show their appreciation this holiday season, let them help those who are truly in need." 

Patients can support the cause by donating at the office or donating online at www.giveupyourgifts.ca and making a donation to a list of meaningful life-changing projects like supporting people living with HIV&AIDS, providing clean water or nutritious foods to families in need.

All donations will go to support CPAR's critical health and development projects in rural Uganda, Ethiopia, Malawi and Tanzania.

Toronto-based Dr. Jim Sugiyama is following Dr. Pegado's lead and also giving up his patient holiday gifts in support of CPAR's critical health and development projects.

Both doctors are also challenging other physicians who receive a lot of patient gifts each year to consider giving up their gifts for Africa. They are hoping that their efforts will give more meaning to the act of holiday giving.

For further information:

For more information about the Give Up Your Gifts for Africa Holiday Campaign or to arrange interviews with Dr. Pegado or Dr. Sugiyama, please contact:

Roxane Tracey, CPAR

Communications Manager

416-369-0865 ext. 26

[email protected]