Veterinarians Cycle from Milton to Guelph in Support of Seniors, Disabled
Individuals & Women at Risk of Abuse

MILTON, ON, Oct. 1 /CNW/ - On Saturday, October 3 , fifty-three veterinarians and veterinary health professionals will cycle from Milton to Guelph and back to raise funds and awareness for the Farley Foundation - a charitable organization which assists seniors, disabled persons and women at risk of abuse (who are participating in OVMA's SafePet Program*) with the non-elective veterinary care of their pets.

Thirty-five riders will cycle 100 km, and eighteen will cycle 100 miles, and each cyclist will attempt to raise a minimum of $1,000 for the Farley Foundation. Last year, eleven cyclists rode a combined total of 1,520 km through Northern Ontario to raise $15,000 for people and pets in need. This year's ride is the largest single event that the foundation has ever had and funds raised are expected to exceed $50,000 .

"This year's Ride for Farley marks the largest single fundraiser we've ever had for the Farley Foundation," said Dr. Mark Gemmill , President of the Farley Foundation. ""Events like Ride for Farley enable Ontario veterinarians to provide assistance to pet owners who otherwise would not be able to afford veterinary care for the pets that mean the world to them."

    
    2009 Ride for Farley Details: 2 Photo Opportunities
    ---------------------------------------------------

    When:    Saturday, October 3, 2009

    Where:   The ride begins at the Farley Foundation office in Milton at
             10 a.m. Riders are expected to arrive back in Milton beginning
             at 4:30 p.m.

             1. 12:00 p.m. - Photo opportunity
             Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph
             "Gryphs Sports Lounge" located in the Gryphon Sports Centre
             For directions, visit http://www.ovc.uoguelph.ca/visitors/

             2. 4:30 p.m. ETA - Riders finish back in Milton
             OVMA/Farley Foundation office (parking lot)
             420 Bronte Street South, Suite 205
             Milton, ON L9T 0H9
             For directions, please visit http://www.ovma.org/contact.html

    100 Km
    Riders:

    Ms. Jen Barrette                                         (Burlington, ON)
    Dr. Leanne Baehrle, Ancaster Animal Hospital               (Ancaster, ON)
    Dr. Edison Barrientos, Dundas-Euclid Animal Hospital        (Toronto, ON)
    Dr. Jane Burgess                                             (Fergus, ON)
    Ms. Melissa Chatterjee, Dundas-Euclid Animal Hospital       (Toronto, ON)
    Ms. Mary Jo Clawsey, West Park Animal Hospital             (Hamilton, ON)
    Dr. Sandy Cook                                             (Kagawong, ON)
    Dr. Ellie Cowper, Chicopee Hills Animal Hospital          (Kitchener, ON)
    Dr. Deanne Croft, Chicopee Hills Animal Hospital          (Kitchener, ON)
    Nicole Dew, English Line Veterinary Services           (Campbellford, ON)
    Dr. Jim Fairles, Fairles (Animal Health Laboratory,
    University of Guelph)                                        (Guelph, ON)
    Ms. Julie Finnigan                                          (Welland, ON)
    Dr. Mike Finnigan, Main West Animal Hospital                (Welland, ON)
    Dr. David Gay                                              (Fonthill, ON)
    Ms. Victoria Hickey, Ontario Veterinary Medical Association  (Milton, ON)
    Ms. Kathy Holden, Brantford Veterinary Clinic             (Brantford, ON)
    Dr. Jim Hysen, Lockerby Animal Hospital                     (Sudbury, ON)
    Dr. David Kerr, North Hill Animal Hospital                   (Bolton, ON)
    Dr. Ted Kilpatrick                                         (Kagawong, ON)
    Dr. Ginger Louws, Animal Hospital of High Park              (Toronto, ON)
    Ms. April McEwan, North Hill Animal Hospital                 (Bolton, ON)
    Dr. Annabel Musson, Markham Heritage Animal Clinic          (Markham, ON)
    Dr. Lindsay Patton, Headon Forest Animal Hospital        (Burlington, ON)
    Dr. Bob Perry, Dunnville Veterinary Clinic                (Dunnville, ON)
    Mrs. Elaine Perry, Dunnville Veterinary Clinic            (Dunnville, ON)
    Dr. Marie Ramoutar, Kanata Animal Hospital                   (Kanata, ON)
    Mr. Ross Redford                                           (Brampton, ON)
    Dr. Karen Regan, Animal Hospital of High Park               (Toronto, ON)
    Dr. Sherrill Richards                                (St. Catharines, ON)
    Dr. Robin Roscoe, Lynwood Animal Hospital                    (Nepean, ON)
    Ms. Heather Scott                                       (Mississauga, ON)
    Dr. Piera Valenti                                             (Exter, ON)
    Sarah Wilson, Guelph Animal Hospital                         (Guelph, ON)

    160 Km Riders:

    Dr. Renee Bourque, West Park Animal Hospital               (Hamilton, ON)
    Dr. Shawn Bruch, College Manor Veterinary Hospital        (Newmarket, ON)
    Mr. Michael Fitzgibbon, Pottruff & Smith Insurance          (Toronto, ON)
    Dr. Peter Firth, Firth Veterinary Hospital                   (London, ON)
    Mr. Stefan Freeman, Bayer Animal Health                     (Toronto, ON)
    Dr. Mark Gemmill, Cornell Animal Hospital                    (Guelph, ON)
    Dr. Marie Hardy                                            (Waterloo, ON)
    Dr. Dave Heaton, Three Islands Veterinary Services       (Bobcaygeon, ON)
    Dr. Robert Jones, Birchmount Veterinary Hospital            (Toronto, ON)
    Dr. Jenny Laing, Champlain Animal Hospital             (Peterborough, ON)
    Mr. Gary Macdonald                                         (Carlisle, ON)
    Dr. Tom Mulder, Fairview Drive Pet Hospital               (Brantford, ON)
    Darren Osborne, Ontario Veterinary Medical Association       (Milton, ON)
    Dr. Cliff Redford, Wellington Veterinary Clinic             (Markham, ON)
    Dr. Carol Sanio, Minden Animal Hospital                      (Minden, ON)
    Dr. Dale Scott, Scott Veterinary Services                 (Mindemoya, ON)
    Dr. John Tait                                                (Guelph, ON)
    Dr. Jonathan Uyede                                         (Hespeler, ON)
    Dr. Albert Wimmers, Limestone Valley Animal Hospital         (Milton, ON)
    Ms. Lisa Wood, Lynwood Animal Hospital                       (Nepean, ON)


    * OVMA's SafePet Program assists women at risk of abuse (and their
        children) who are entering women's shelters by providing temporary
        housing and care for their pets while they are residing in women's
        shelters. For more information about the program, please visit
        www.ovma.org.
    

Established by the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA) in 2001, the Farley Foundation assists seniors and disabled persons on limited incomes and women at risk of abuse who are participating in OVMA's SafePet program to access non-elective veterinary medical treatment for their pets. To date, the Foundation has disbursed over $670,000 to assist more than 1,900 people and pets.

For further information: To learn more about the Farley Foundation or the Ride for Farley, please contact: Melissa Carlaw, Manager of Communications & Public Relations, 1-888-262-9811, ext. 4 or [email protected]