News Room
For immediate release - March 14, 2007
Dick Maloney Returns to the Stage as HOPE & HEROES Raises
More Than $60,000 for Rehabilitation Centre
Event has raised $250,000 since 2004; Sens
Alumni announce new $250,000 goal
(OTTAWA, ONTARIO) – More than 600 people
were inspired and entertained at this year’s HOPE & HEROES
event, hosted by the Ottawa Senators Alumni and The Ottawa Hospital
Foundation. The unique fundraiser, held this evening at the Westin
Ottawa, supports the Acquired Brain Injury Program at The Ottawa
Hospital Rehabilitation Centre, the region’s leading centre
for physical rehabilitation services.
The event has raised $250,000 over the past four years for The
Rehabilitation Centre. The Sens Alumni announced tonight that it
will renew its pledge for another four years, bringing its overall
commitment to $500,000.
One of the evening’s highlights was a speech by Ottawa entertainer
Dick Maloney in his first public appearance since he was paralyzed
in an accident last summer. Maloney spoke of the excellent care
he received at The Rehabilitation Centre and his determination to
return to his beloved singing career.
Earlier in the evening, the Ottawa Senators Alumni and The Rehabilitation
Centre presented scholarships and awards. The 7th Man Award was
presented to Bruce Armsden, who has given an incredible 50 years
of volunteer service to the Arnprior Junior B Packers hockey team.
Other award recipients included Peter Morel, who accepted The Rehabilitation
Centre Individual Achievement Award. Despite being born with spina
bifida, Morel has established a career as an award-winning fitness
expert. The Ottawa Senators’ Player of the Year award went
to Senators’ Captain Daniel Alfredsson for his extensive work
with a number of local charities.
“Once again, we are so proud to be part of this amazing event,”
said Brad Marsh, President of the Ottawa Senators Alumni. “We
are happy to lend our support to such a vital facility that gives
hope to thousands of people in our community.”
The brain injury rehabilitation program has recently moved to its
newly renovated location within The Rehabilitation Centre. The funds
raised this evening will help the Centre to continue expanding this
program and to purchase new equipment.
“We can’t thank The Ottawa Hospital Foundation and
the Ottawa Senators Alumni enough for their ongoing support,”
said Cathy Danbrook, Vice-President, Clinical Programs, The Ottawa
Hospital. “This fundraising event helps us to provide the
best of care to people whose lives have been dramatically changed
by an illness or injury.”
The evening was capped off by a hilarious performance by award-winning
Canadian comedienne Cathy Jones, best known for her work on This
Hour has 22 Minutes.
HOPE & HEROES is made possible thanks to the generous support
of our sponsors, including our Title Sponsor, Scotiabank Group.
The Ottawa Hospital Rehabilitation Centre specializes
in the physical rehabilitation of adults who have experienced a
disabling physical illness or injury. For more information, visit
www.ottawahospital.on.ca/sc/rehabcentre/index-e.asp
.
The Ottawa Senators Alumni was established in
1992. This 41-member group of former NHL hockey players has raised
more than $1 million and given many hours of their time to local
charity events.
The Ottawa Hospital is a multi-campus, academic
health sciences centre, serving 1.5 million residents of Ottawa
and Eastern Ontario, both in English and French. It provides care
for more patients than any other hospital in Canada, and is one
of the largest acute care hospitals in the country. For more information,
visit The Ottawa Hospital Web site at www.ottawahospital.on.ca.
The Ottawa Hospital Foundation’s mission
is to inspire and enable people to support the highest quality health
care at The Ottawa Hospital and lifesaving research at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. For more information, visit The Ottawa
Hospital Foundation Web site at www.ohfoundation.ca.
For more information, please contact:
Robin Percival
Media & Public Relations Officer
The Ottawa Hospital Foundation
Tel.: 613-798-5555, ext. 18718
Cell: 613-614-8755
rpercival@ottawahospital.on.ca
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