Record Breaking total of $5,234,197 Raised as Thousands Participate in the
19th Annual Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure in
Toronto

TORONTO, Oct. 3 /CNW/ - More than 22,000 Torontonians gathered today at the University of Toronto, St. George (downtown) campus to help raise a record-breaking total of $5,234,197, a 28% increase over 2009, for breast cancer research, education and awareness programs. Participants in the 19th annual Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure ran and walked the 5 km course through the streets of Toronto united in their commitment to create a future without breast cancer.

Early results indicate record-breaking totals on a national level and in the Province of Ontario as well. Nationally, approximately $33,000,000 was raised with more than 170,000 people participating in 60 Run sites. In 2009, $26.5 million was raised nationally. More than 70,000 people participated in the province of Ontario with $14,119,942 raised, representing a 24.7% increase over last year. The Run is the largest, single-day, volunteer-led event in support of the breast cancer cause.

"It is humbling to witness the courage and commitment of those whose lives have been affected by breast cancer," says Sandra Palmaro, CEO of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation - Ontario Region. "Their dedication to making a difference year after year fuels our efforts as a Foundation to fund even more innovative initiatives that will one day lead to a future without breast cancer."

"We also wish to extend our gratitude to everyone at the University of Toronto for opening their doors to the Run and the thousands of participants who were here today," added Ms. Palmaro. "We couldn't have mounted this event without their support."

Funds raised through the Run are directed by the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation to the most promising breast cancer research and health promotion initiatives in Canada. In Ontario, funding has been directed to projects at every cancer research centre in the province, as well as to communities ranging from Thunder Bay to Ottawa, Moose Factory to Windsor. These innovative projects are making groundbreaking progress in breast cancer biology, primary prevention and risk factors, early detection and diagnosis, treatment, care and quality of life, education and awareness.

At the closing ceremonies held this morning at the University's St. George campus, individual participants and teams were recognized for their outstanding fundraising efforts. Awards were presented to the following participants:

    
    -  Dave Hopkinson, Senior Vice President Business Partnerships, Maple
       Leaf Sports & Entertainment in Toronto won the Determination Award for
       his top individual fundraising efforts of $21,118.
    -  Team CHFI 98.1, which raised $57,951 won the CIBC Corporate Spirit
       Award
    -  Team Tina received the Friends and Family Team Challenge Award
       presented by East Side Mario's in recognition of their team
       fundraising total of $52,520
    -  St. Clement's School received the School Team Challenge Award for
       raising $32,868.03.
    -  YPA (Young President's Assistants) won the New Balance Women's Team
       Challenge Award, with a team fundraising total of $19,475.
    

The Run is an inspirational, fundraising event that people of all ages and abilities can participate in on their own or as part of a team. Sponsors of the event include CIBC, celebrating its 14th year as title sponsor of the event. National sponsors include New Balance Canada, East Side Mario's, Running Room Canada Inc., Canpar Transport., and Revlon Canada. In Toronto, the event's local sponsors are the University of Toronto, Purina Cat Chow, 98.1 CHFI, OMNI, La Vie En Rose, CB Richard Ellis, and Athlete's Care Sports Medicine Centres.

About The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation

The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation was founded in 1986 as the first organization in the country devoted exclusively to the funding of breast cancer research, education and awareness initiatives. The Foundation continues to blaze new trails in breast cancer and breast health by directing donor dollars to world-class researchers and clinicians who are contributing to groundbreaking progress in breast cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care. Since 2000, the Foundation has directed over $68 million to the cause in Ontario alone as a result of fundraising initiatives like our signature event, the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure, hundreds of thousands of donors and the efforts of a committed volunteer network numbering in the thousands.

/NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited members of the media/

For further information: on the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure contact: Norma Meneguzzi Spall, The Results Group, Tel: [phone], Cell: 416-209-1216 or [email protected]