The Shoppers Drug Mart Weekend to End Women's Cancers announces $7.7 million raised as 12th annual walk commences in Toronto
North America's largest multi-day walk for women's cancers draws 3,100 participants and funds Personalized Cancer Medicine at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
TORONTO, Sept. 6, 2014 /CNW/ - The Shoppers Drug Mart Weekend to End Women's Cancers announced 3,100 walkers helped raise over $7.7 million for the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre as the 12th annual walk commenced Saturday morning in Toronto. Funds raised through North America's largest multi-day walk for women's cancers support Personalized Cancer Medicine at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, one of the top five cancer research centres in the world.
"The overwhelming passion and support from walkers, sponsors, donors and the hundreds of crew and volunteers is simply remarkable and we are extremely grateful to everyone whose helped us make our 12th annual Shoppers Drug Mart Weekend to End Women's Cancers a tremendous success," said Paul Alofs, President and CEO of The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation.
"This year in Canada, over 34,500 women will be diagnosed with a form of breast or gynecologic cancer, and over 8,000 will die from the disease. These vital funds are enabling our teams of researchers and doctors to lead the revolution in Personalized Cancer Medicine. This enables our world-leading doctors and scientists to detect cancers earlier, diagnose cancer with more precision, target treatment for each patient while providing additional support for patients and their families throughout their cancer journey," Alofs added.
In 12 years, The Toronto Weekend raised over $148 million for the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. The annual two-day, 60 km walk through Toronto brings together communities of survivors and their supporters who spend months fundraising and training in order to participate.
"I was 36-years-old with a toddler when I was diagnosed with cervical cancer, and have sadly lost my sister, uncle and aunt to cancer," said Suzy Garibaldi, a first-year participant from Bradford, Ontario.
"I'm not walking 60 km this weekend for myself, but to honour my late sister, who left behind a young family, and my other relatives to keep their legacies alive. I am proud to participate and support The Princess Margaret's mission to conquer cancer in our lifetime. I just don't want anyone else to lose any more loved ones," Garibaldi added.
In 2010, Shoppers Drug Mart became the national title sponsor of The Weekend to End Women's Cancers, and since then, more than 2,300 Shoppers employees, their friends and families have raised over $2.6 million across Canada. Shoppers Drug Mart's sponsorship enables more dollars raised by Weekend participants to directly support cancer programs at The Princess Margaret.
"The Shoppers Drug Mart Weekend to End Women's Cancers is just one way that we are able to promote and improve the health of Canadian women," said Domenic Pilla, President and CEO of Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation.
"We've been caring for the health and well-being of Canadians for more than 50 years and that focus extends beyond our associate-owned stores to the communities we serve," Pilla added.
During the opening ceremony at Rogers Centre, Alofs addressed The Weekend community to share significant event-related news about the future walks in Toronto.
"We are thrilled to continue to walk next year with a new name and broader appeal so that each of our Walkers will be able to raise funds for the cancer type they care about the most," Alofs said.
"The Shoppers Drug Mart Weekend to End Women's Cancers will now become the Shoppers Drug Mart OneWalk To Conquer Cancer. Funds raised through OneWalk To Conquer Cancer will continue to support the clinical enhancements, survivorship programs and research of Dr. Tak Mak and his team at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, and in addition, when a walker registers, they will select a specific cancer fund their dollars raised will support, such as: Discovery Research Fund; Breast; Gynecology (Uterine, Cervical & Ovarian); Lung, Colon, Rectal and Gastrointestinal, Endocrine; Prostate, Testicular, Bladder and Genitourinary; Head and Neck; Brain, Central Nervous System, Eye; Leukemia, Lymphoma, Endocrine; Sarcoma; Skin Cancer, Melanoma; Childhood Cancers," Alofs added.
Shoppers Drug Mart OneWalk To Conquer Cancer will involve a 25 km walk through picturesque streets and communities in Toronto and an inspiring festival experience, in one day, to raise funds for Personalized Cancer Medicine at The Princess Margaret. The event will take place Saturday September 12th of next year in Toronto, and additional OneWalk details are expected to be shared to participants and their supporters during the Saturday evening camp at Rogers Centre. Registration for Shoppers Drug Mart OneWalk To Conquer Cancer in Toronto is available online at www.onewalk.ca or by calling (416) 815-WALK (9255).
On Sunday, Weekend Walkers will finish their 60 km journey at Roundhouse Park, next to Rogers Centre in downtown Toronto.
Event organizers expect hundreds of people to attend public cheering stations along the route.
ABOUT THE PRINCESS MARGARET CANCER CENTRE - CLICK HERE
ABOUT THE CAMPBELL FAMILY CANCER RESEARCH INSTITUTE AT THE PRINCESS MARGARET CANCER CENTRE - CLICK HERE
ABOUT THE PRINCESS MARGARET CANCER FOUNDATION - CLICK HERE
ABOUT SHOPPERS DRUG MART - CLICK HERE
MEDIA PHOTOS FROM TODAY - CLICK HERE
SOURCE: The Weekend To End Women's Cancers
MEDIA CONTACT:
Leviana Coccia
Communications Coordinator
(416) 577-9255
[email protected]
Share this article