Shoppers Drug Mart and Osteoporosis Canada Join Forces for Stronger Women's Health

New Shoppers LOVE YOU Program Putting Women's Health First

TORONTO, Aug. 17, 2015 /CNW/ - Shoppers Drug Mart is building on its track record as the national leader in women's health by announcing a new $1 million partnership with Osteoporosis Canada as part of the new Shoppers LOVE YOU program.

The new three-year partnership with Osteoporosis Canada aims to build awareness among Shoppers Drug Mart customers about how to reduce the risk of osteoporosis and the broken bones it can cause.  It will also support continuing education for Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacists on how to help patients slow the progression of this bone disease through medication, vitamin supplementation and lifestyle changes.  Newly created educational resources will be available to Canadians starting in early 2016.

This new partnership and the launch of the new Shoppers LOVE YOU program will help women stay focused on making their own health a priority.  Over the past five years, Shoppers Drug Mart has put women's health first by contributing more than $57 million on behalf of its customers, associate owners and their store teams to local, regional and national women's health initiatives – benefitting more than 1.5 million Canadian women. 

The Shoppers LOVE YOU program is the next evolution in this commitment, by connecting women in support of women's health initiatives through events like:

• Shoppers LOVE YOU Run for Women, supporting local women's mental health in 12 communities across Canada this past year;
• Twice-annual Beauty Galas held at Shoppers Drug Mart, in support of cancer patients and breast cancer screening; and
• Growing Women's Health (formerly Tree of Life) campaign in support of community women's health programs.

Local women's health organizations can also apply for funding.  For more details, visit shoppersloveyou.ca.

Quotes

"Pharmacists are an accessible yet untapped resource who can help advise women on lifestyle changes, vitamin supplementation and medication adherence to prevent broken bones due to osteoporosis," said Dr. Famida Jiwa, President and CEO of Osteoporosis Canada. "We are optimistic that our new partnership with the Shoppers LOVE YOU program will help reduce the risk of osteoporosis for women who need extra guidance to improve their bone health."

"Our support of women's health has never been stronger. The new Shoppers LOVE YOU program is about helping women to stay focused on being their best – because we believe you're at your best when you love you," said Lisa Gibbs, Director of Community of Investment at Shoppers Drug Mart. "That's why we're sharing the expertise of our partners at leading women's health organizations – like Osteoporosis Canada – so that we can help women stay focused on making their own health a priority."

Facts about Osteoporosis:

• At least 1 in 3 women will break a bone because of osteoporosis.
• 80 per cent of Canadians who break a bone as a result of osteoporosis are never diagnosed with the condition.
• Each year in Canada, a broken bone caused by osteoporosis is more common than heart attack, stroke and breast cancer combined.
• Osteoporosis and the fractures it causes cost the health care system $2.3 billion each year.

About Shoppers Drug Mart
Shoppers Drug Mart is one of the most recognized and trusted names in Canadian retailing.  The Company is the licensor of full-service retail drug stores operating under the name Shoppers Drug Mart (Pharmaprix in Québec).  With over 1,250 Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix stores operating in prime locations in each province and two territories, the Company is one of the most convenient retailers in Canada.  The Company also licenses or owns 59 medical clinic pharmacies operating under the name Shoppers Simply Pharmacy (Pharmaprix Simplement Santé in Québec) and six luxury beauty destinations operating as Murale.  As well, the Company owns and operates 62 Shoppers Home Health Care stores, making it the largest Canadian retailer of home health care products and services.  In addition to its retail store network, the Company owns Shoppers Drug Mart Specialty Health Network Inc., a provider of specialty drug distribution, pharmacy and comprehensive patient support services; and MediSystem Technologies Inc., a provider of pharmaceutical products and services to long-term care facilities. Shoppers Drug Mart is a unique and independent operating division of Loblaw Companies Limited.  For more information, visit www.shoppersdrugmart.ca.

SOURCE Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation

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Lana Gogas, Shoppers Drug Mart, 416.493.1220, ext. 5141, [email protected]