Windsor Volunteer Kate Montgomery Honoured at the 3rd Annual Canadian Breast
Cancer Foundation - Ontario Region Volunteer Awards Ceremony

TORONTO, April 18 /CNW/ - There's no doubt that as a Run committee member for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure in Windsor, Kate Montgomery's high energy, exuberance and team spirit would inspire others. Not a day goes by that Kate's not thinking up new ways to raise awareness of breast cancer and the work being done by the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation - Ontario Region, or rallying everyone she knows for fundraising and promotion of the Run through local bake sales, pink lemonade stands, barbeques, book sales, and even a float in Windsor's annual parade.

That is why she was presented with the Run Volunteer Award as part of the 3rd Annual Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation - Ontario Region Volunteer Awards Ceremony that took place earlier today, Sunday, April 18th, in Toronto. This award is given to a regional volunteer who demonstrates leadership, support, service excellence, innovation, creativity and the ability to drive and motivate other volunteers to reach their goals.

Having joined CIBC in Windsor right out of university, Kate decided to sign up for the Volunteer Run Committee as a way to team up with her new co-workers. "It was a fabulous committee," she says enthusiastically. "They were energetic, excited, happy, so involved!" Kate was hooked. Five years later, she says working as part of the Run committee is both rewarding and fun, the day of the Run is extraordinary, but most importantly, it's meeting the Survivors that keeps her coming back year after year. "We are all working together to create a future without breast cancer," she explains. "We never forget why we're here."

The Foundation was started in 1986 by a group of volunteers and it remains a volunteer-led organization. The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure, the Foundation's signature event, is the largest, single-day, volunteer-led event in support of breast cancer in Canada, uniting more than 70,000 participants and 6,000 volunteers in Ontario alone.

"This disease touches thousands of women and their families every year," says Sandra Palmaro, CEO of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation - Ontario Region. "The depth and breadth of our volunteer commitment demonstrates the importance and pervasiveness of the cause."

The Volunteer Awards Ceremony is held in recognition of National Volunteer Week, but the success of Foundation volunteers is evident year round. Because of the contribution of time and skill of volunteers like Kate, and the dedication to the cause they inspire in others, incredible advances in breast cancer research are being made possible.

"Progress in our lifetime is more than possible - it's proven," adds Palmaro. "Real change is happening - change that is saving and improving lives. This is the day we thank our volunteers and acknowledge their extraordinary contributions to our goal of creating a future without breast cancer. We can't thank them enough."

The Foundation's Ontario Region was proud to recognize these distinguished volunteers as winners at the 3rd Annual Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation - Ontario Region Volunteer Awards Ceremony. Thanks to their efforts and those of others like them, the Foundation can continue to work towards creating a future without breast cancer.

The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation was founded in 1986 as the first organization in the country devoted exclusively to the funding of breast cancer research, education and awareness initiatives. The Foundation continues to blaze new trails in breast cancer and breast health by directing donor dollars to world-class researchers and clinicians who are contributing to groundbreaking progress in breast cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care. Since 2000, the Foundation has directed more than $68 million to the cause in Ontario alone as a result of fundraising initiatives like our signature event the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure, hundreds of thousands of donors and the efforts of a committed volunteer network numbering in the thousands.

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