Lace up and join the Relay to End Kids Cancer
OTTAWA, Oct. 10, 2012 /CNW/ - Sears Canada Inc. is calling on Ottawa-Gatineau residents to lace up for The Sears Great Canadian Run. On October 13, 2012, relay teams of up to 20 people are invited to join hundreds of Canadians on a full-day running adventure starting from the Canada Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa and ending at the Fairmont Le Château Montebello. In 2011, in its inaugural year, 800 participants across Canada raised over $500,000 in the first Sears Great Canadian Run in support of children battling cancer. Proceeds from The Run will support pediatric oncology research such as the Sears Childhood Cancer Fellowship and treatment initiatives at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO).
The 2nd annual Ottawa to Montebello Run offers 60 km and 100 km distance options throughout the picturesque autumn landscape. Teams will have the opportunity to create their own strategy to manage the course by taking turns running throughout the day. Each leg ranges from 1km to 12km in length. The Run was awarded "Best National Running Event (non-marathon)" in Get Out There Magazine's 2011 Readers' Choice Awards.
"The Sears Great Canadian Run supports a cause that is important to our associates and customers in communities across the country," said Calvin McDonald, President and CEO, Sears Canada Inc. "The Sears Great Canadian Run gives Canadians - runners and non-runners alike - a great reason to team up for a cause that affects thousands of children and families every single day. The Sears Great Canadian Run is a way for Canadians to support families who are going through the most challenging of times."
The Sears Great Canadian Run will raise funds for the Sears Canada Charitable Foundation. The Foundation's donation for the Run will be split evenly between patient care at CHEO, which includes programs and research in the hospital's Oncology Department, and national pediatric oncology research initiatives, such as The Sears Childhood Cancer Fellowship.
"It's inspiring to see a company like Sears giving back and making a difference in the communities that they serve" said CHEO Foundation President and CEO Fred Bartlett. "Thanks to research, survival rates for children with cancer continue to improve, but the need for funding to provide treatment and further research is never ending. The Sears Great Canadian Run truly makes a difference for families of kids with cancer and on their behalf I want to thank everyone at Sears and all the participants for making it such a great success."
About the Sears Canada Charitable Foundation
The Sears Canada Charitable Foundation is a registered Canadian charity that collects and distributes donations to charitable organizations that support Sears Canada's community investment mandate, which is focused on the healthy development of children and youth in areas of both health and education. The health component is centered on raising awareness and providing funds for research and treatment for the fight against childhood cancer. The education component is centered on after-school programs and initiatives, which enrich children's lives and allow them to reach their full potential as contributing members of society.
SOURCE: Sears Canada Inc.
Media Contacts
Sara Forbes
Communications Manager
Sears Great Canadian Run
416.301.2921
[email protected]
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