OTTAWA,
April 12, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - On
Sunday, May 5th, cyclists,
walkers and in-line skaters will take part in the CN Cycle for the
Children's Hospital of Eastern
Ontario (CHEO). The beautiful grounds of the Canadian
War Museum and scenic routes through downtown Ottawa and beyond will once again provide an
amazing experience for participants as they cycle, walk and roll to
raise funds to help kids with cancer.
The CN Cycle for CHEO has raised $2,408,282 over the last four years, with all of
those funds used to help kids with cancer.
Participants will once again be riding on fully
supported routes that have been set up to further enhance the urban
cycling experience. All routes begin and end at the Canadian
War Museum and will take riders along the Sir John A Macdonald
Parkway, Queen Elizabeth Driveway, through the Central Experimental
Farm, downtown streets and the Rockcliffe Parkway.
Lebreton Flats adjacent to the Canadian War
Museum also provides a wonderful environment for the numerous
family activities and entertainment that participants have come to
expect.
Claude Mongeau,
president and chief executive officer of CN, said: "CN is very
committed to giving back to the communities where we operate to
make them better places to live and work. CN tries to do this
in many ways. One of the best ways we have and one we are the
fondest of is promoting and safeguarding children's health. We
invite everyone to join the great number of CN employees and their
families who take part in the CN Cycle for CHEO event each
year."
All money raised at the CN Cycle for CHEO will
go to help kids with cancer. CHEO is the main beneficiary, with a
portion of proceeds also going to Candlelighters and Ronald McDonald House.
"We are so thrilled that our incredible title
sponsor CN is back and we are looking forward to another exciting
event on May 5th," says
Cheryl Hammond, VP of corporate
development "Our incentive prizes are fantastic and one lucky
participant is going to win a new car. For every $250 raised in pledges, participants over the age
of 18 get a ballot entered into the draw for a brand new 2013 Ford
Fiesta from Jim Keay Ford
Lincoln. Other prizes include airfare for two from Air
Canada and Loblaws gift cards."
CN Cycle is not a competitive race however, the
most ambitious participants can take part in the Ericsson 70K Cycle
or the Coughlin & Associates 35K Cycle. Esso is sponsoring the
15K Cycle and In-line Skate, Royal Lepage Team Realty is the 5 K
Walk sponsor and Gale Realty is sponsoring the 2K Walk.
The Ericsson 70K Cycle will start at
8:30 a.m. followed by the Coughlin
& Associates 35K Cycle at 9 a.m.
At 9:45 a.m., just before the start
of the Esso 15K Cycle & In-line Skate, the "Tribute to Tori's
Angels" ceremony will be held. At the age of nine, Tori lost
her courageous battle with cancer. "It's a fitting tribute.
'Tori's Angels' serves as a memorial to Tori and all of the kids
who have fought their battle but have sadly passed away from this
disease," says Hammond. "It's an important part of this
wonderful event that raises money to help the children and youth
who are battling cancer." The Gale Realty 2K Walk and the Royal
Lepage Team Realty 5K walk will both start at 10:15 a.m
Anyone wanting to support the CN Cycle for CHEO
can register online or download a pledge form at
www.cncycle.ca.
There are three pre-event registration
opportunities at the Canadian War Museum;
Fri, May 3,
3 - 8 p.m.
Sat. May 4, 10
a.m. - 4 p.m. Sunday, May 5, 7 - 10
a.m.
Participants are reminded to bring completed and
signed pledge forms and pledges when they register. The fee
is $40 per participant, $20 for youth 14 and under. Please note that
thanks to additional sponsorship the registration fees will no
longer be required above and beyond your fundraising dollars.
Your registration fee will be waived if you raise a minimum of
$40 per adult and $20 per child.
All registered participants will receive a bib
that will entitle them to enjoy the walking or cycling events and
food. As a bonus, all registered participants automatically
qualify to win airfare for two to any Air Canada destination.
Participants can register as individuals or work with colleagues,
friends, teams, or associations to form teams to have fun together
in the Ottawa Citizen Team Challenge.
Those unable to participate can support the
McDonald's Dream Team, three inspiring CHEO cancer patients
representing the thousands of patients who rely on CHEO each and
every day! You can pledge online at www.cncycle.ca or call
613-737-7979.
Upon finishing the routes, there will be plenty
of fun activities for people of all ages in the Majic 100 Family
Fun Zone including the Cowguys Comedy Show, Craz-E-Crew Extreme
Sports Thrill Show, face painters, family BBQ (by donation), slides
for the kids, Little Ray's Reptiles, magic show by Circus Delights,
moon bouncer, and a petting zoo.
A special wrap-up, awards and cheque
presentation will be held at noon. We invite everyone, including
our friends in the media to attend this exciting event in support
of kids with cancer.
About the CHEO Foundation
The sole purpose of the CHEO Foundation is to raise funds to help
support the work of the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. Donations help the hospital
provide a wide variety of pediatric programs, research, state-of
the art equipment, medical and nursing education, and assistance
for families in crisis.
In the early 1960s, a group of concerned
citizens in Ottawa formed a
committee with the purpose of establishing a children's hospital in
the community. It was no easy task to convince governments and
ministries to help fund a children's hospital in Ottawa, but the committee persevered with the
enthusiastic support of the community. This committee formed the
base for the present CHEO Foundation, which was incorporated in
1974.
By the time CHEO opened its doors in 1974, the
volunteer fundraisers had overcome numerous obstacles, and more
than $4 million had been donated by
the local community - a truly significant amount especially for
that time.
Each year, the Foundation holds the CHEO
Telethon on CTV, which is part of the North-America wide Children's Miracle Network.
All funds raised locally benefit CHEO. Other events and lotteries
such as CN Cycle for CHEO, the Dream of a Lifetime Lottery and The
We All Win Lottery, bring important support to CHEO. Community
organizers support CHEO through more than 200 events each year,
ranging from corporate and private dances, barbecues, and sports
tournaments. Significant funds are also raised through annual
giving and bequests.
Kevin Keohane is
the current President and CEO of the Children's Hospital of Eastern
Ontario Foundation. The Foundation is managed by a Board of
Directors comprised of community leaders, the President and CEO of
the Foundation, the CEO of the Hospital, a Chair, and
representatives of the hospital staff and volunteer
association.
About CN
CN - Canadian National Railway Company and its operating railway
subsidiaries - spans Canada and
mid-America, from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to the
Gulf of Mexico, serving the ports
of Vancouver, Prince Rupert, B.C., Montreal, Halifax, New
Orleans, and Mobile, Ala.,
and the key metropolitan areas of Toronto, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Duluth,
Minn./Superior, Wis.,
Green Bay, Wis., Minneapolis/St. Paul, Memphis, and Jackson, Miss., with connections to all points
in North America. For more
information on CN, visit the company's website at www.cn.ca.
SOURCE CN