WICC Relay for Life event raises more than $350,000 for lifesaving cancer research

TORONTO, June 21, 2016  /CNW/ - Last Friday, insurance industry professionals with the Women In Cancer Crusade (WICC) came together at Downsview Park in Toronto to raise more than $350,000 in support of the Canadian Cancer Society's Relay For Life.

Relay For Life is the Society's signature fundraiser and the WICC event raises money to fund lifesaving research. This annual insurance industry-exclusive event was a success with 546 registered participants accepting the baton and walking the Relay track.

As presenting sponsor, Economical Insurance donated $109,500 to support this event and several other Relay For Life events in Ontario and Quebec. "As a member of the insurance community, we were quite proud to support the event in such a significant way," said Tom Reikman, Economical's chief operating officer. "It's a powerful thing to stand together with our colleagues and competitors, united in our fight against cancer."

Event participants were fervent in their fundraising efforts, with the Northbridge Insurance Navigators team receiving honors as top fundraisers after raising almost $26,000. "I am so proud of both my team and the industry for their passion and commitment to fighting cancer," said Relay For Life Co-Chair Shari Dodsworth, senior vice president, Sales & Distribution at Northbridge Insurance.  "This is the seventh year that we have joined WICC in Relay For Life and we are showing no signs of slowing down!"

More than 100 volunteers supported the six-hour event. "From the bottom of my heart, thank you, thank you, thank you to our hardworking volunteers, teams and generous sponsors behind last Friday's Relay for Life. It was a smashing success," said Mariellen Glover, vice president, Property & Shared Services, Intact Insurance and co-chair, WICC Relay for Life. "This annual cross-sector campaign exemplifies the industry's dedication to finding the cure for cancer."

This year marks the 20^th anniversary of the Women In Insurance Cancer Crusade, with more than $12.6 million raised for cancer research. WICC has partnered with the Canadian Cancer Society as its charity of choice for 20 years. The Society is the largest charitable funder of cancer research in the country.

"Canadians should be very proud of their insurers for stepping up and supporting the Canadian Cancer Society," said Susan Drodge, the Society's Director of Corporate and Community Partnerships in Ontario. "Year after year, insurance industry professionals demonstrate their commitment to those in their community touched by the disease."

WICC would like to remind people that they still have time to accept the baton and make a donation at relayforlife.ca/wicc.

SOURCE Women In Insurance Cancer Crusade

Cynthia Gardner, 416-362-2031 ext 4330, [email protected]