HOPE, BC, Oct. 15, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - One hundred and seventy seven days after its launch in St. John's, NL, the final 3 runners of the Mylan Relay for Hope, a cross-country journey to raise funds and awareness for those living with or at risk of HIV/AIDS, arrived in Hope, B.C. The runners, representing the B.C. team, arrived on Wednesday before a crowd of students from Hope Secondary School and local mayor, Mr. Wilfried Vicktor.
B.C. residents Pamela Haaf, Luke Bailey and Derek Flynn were the last 3 runners to participate in the baton exchange ceremony, which began in St. John's and continued across Canada. They were part of the 44 men and women who participated in this 8,100 km relay run, which began on April 21 at St John's City Hall and reached Hope, B.C. on October 14. The three B.C. residents ran the last 554 km of the relay.
"Mylan and our partners The Running Room, Delta Hotels and the Elton John AIDS Foundation have created a unique, bold and ambitious national awareness campaign," said Gary Lacasse, chair of the board of the Canadian AIDS Society. "From one portion of the relay to the next, province by province, we have built positive relationships and stimulated community engagement as we moved across the country. I am confident that we can build on this foundation for the future, strengthen our ties with communities and continue to raise awareness of the on-going realities of HIV infection."
Naguib Fahmy, president of Mylan's business in Canada, commented: "Mylan was grateful for the opportunity to lead this important campaign. The Relay and Mylan share a goal to set new standards in healthcare. Today, nearly 50% of those being treated for HIV/AIDS in the developing world depend on a Mylan antiretroviral product. We're proud of our company's efforts to continue expanding access to these critical medicines by making high quality, more affordable treatment options available to patients who need them. The grassroots support the Relay received across the country was incredible to witness. We are grateful for everyone's support."
Sponsored by Mylan, one of the world's leading generics and specialty pharmaceutical companies, the Mylan Relay for Hope supports the Canadian AIDS Society and aims to raise funds and awareness for those living with or at risk of HIV/AIDS.
About the Canadian AIDS Society
Incorporated since 1986, the Canadian AIDS Society is a national coalition of community-based organizations across Canada. CAS is dedicated to strengthening the response to HIV/AIDS across all sectors of society, and to enriching the lives of people and communities living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.
About Mylan
Mylan is a global pharmaceutical company committed to setting new standards in healthcare. Working together around the world to provide 7 billion people access to high quality medicine, we innovate to satisfy unmet needs; make reliability and service excellence a habit; do what's right, not what's easy; and impact the future through passionate global leadership. We offer a growing portfolio of around 1,400 generic pharmaceuticals and several brand medications. In addition, we offer a wide range of antiretroviral therapies, upon which nearly 50% of HIV/AIDS patients in developing countries depend. We also operate one of the largest active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturers and currently market products in about 145 countries and territories. Our workforce of approximately 30,000 people is dedicated to creating better health for a better world, one person at a time. Learn more at mylan.com.
For more information on the Relay for Hope, visit www.relayforhope.ca.
To download b-roll video footage associated with this release, please visit:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7662051-cnw-vod/
Un vidéo pour les médias est disponible par téléchargement:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7662051-cnw-vod/
SOURCE Mylan Relay for Hope
Image with caption: "Left to right : Mylan Relay for Hope runners Luke Bailey, Pamela Haaf and Derek Flynn as they arrived at Hope Secondary on October 14 for the conclusion of the 8,100 km run across Canada to raise awareness and fund for Canadian living with or at risk of HIV/AIDS. (CNW Group/Mylan Relay for Hope)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20151015_C5381_PHOTO_EN_521704.jpg
Video with caption: "Video: One hundred and seventy seven days after its launch in St. John's, NL, the final 3 runners of the Mylan Relay for Hope, a cross-country journey to raise funds and awareness for those living with or at risk of HIV/AIDS, arrived in Hope, B.C. The runners, representing the B.C. team, arrived on Wednesday before a crowd of students from Hope Secondary School and local mayor, Mr. Wilfried Vicktor.". Video available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/playback.cgi?file=20151015_C5381_VIDEO_EN_521709.mp4&posterurl=http%3a%2f%2fphotos.newswire.ca%2fimages%2f20151015_C5381_PHOTO_EN_521709.jpg&order=2&jdd=20151015&cnum=C5381
Video with caption: "Vidéo : Cent soixante dix sept jours après avoir quitté St-Jean, Terre-Neuve, les trois derniers coureurs du Relais de l’Espoir Mylan, ce relais pancanadien de 8 100 km pour recueillir des fonds et sensibiliser le public à la situation des personnes à risque ou vivant avec le VIH/sida au Canada et à travers le monde, sont arrivés à Hope, C.-B. mercredi le 14 octobre. Les trois coureurs ont franchi le fil d’arrivé devant l’école secondaire de Hope sous les applaudissement des 250 étudiants de l’école et du maire de Hope, monsieur Wilfried Vicktor.". Video available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/playback.cgi?file=20151015_C5381_VIDEO_EN_521711.mp4&posterurl=http%3a%2f%2fphotos.newswire.ca%2fimages%2f20151015_C5381_PHOTO_EN_521711.jpg&order=3&jdd=20151015&cnum=C5381
For more information or to set up interviews with the runners and spokespersons, please contact: Marie-Emmanuelle Khoury, Torchia Communications, Off.: 514-288-8290, [email protected]; Paul Vaillancourt III (on site), Torchia Communications, Cell.: 514-996-6224, [email protected]
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