2004 News Releases
For immediate release - February 26, 2004
OTTAWA SENATORS ALUMNI TOUR THE REHABILITATION CENTRE AND PROMOTE
UPCOMING FUNDRAISER “HOPE AND HEROES”
(OTTAWA, ONTARIO) –The Rehabilitation
Centre gave the Ottawa Senators Alumni a tour of their facilities
today to raise awareness about the centre and help promote
a new fundraiser taking place on March 17 called “HOPE
& HEROES”.
The tour included visits to the therapeutic pool, the prosthetics
and orthotics area and the independent living unit. The former
NHL players also got a sense of the equipment needed for victims
of stroke, spinal cord injuries and debilitating illnesses,
in order to regain their independence.
“This is a great opportunity for us to see the wonderful
work that goes on at the centre,” said Brad Marsh, President
of the Ottawa Senators Alumni. “We admire the determination
of those who are working hard to regain the use of their limbs
after an accident or an illness, as well as the caring individuals
who are coaching them through it. We want to do as much as
we can to help them.”
This is the first time the Senators Alumni and The Ottawa
Hospital Foundation work together on a fundraising event.
The Alumni support the physical rehabilitation of young people
through other local programs, and felt that the work at The
Rehabilitation Centre, a centre for adults, was a logical
way to continue helping.
The “HOPE & HEROES” event will include a
cocktail reception, dinner with the Ottawa Senators Alumni
and feature a performance by Ron James (voted Canadian comedian
of the year in 2000 and a star of the Canadian sitcoms Made
in Canada and Blackfly).
Awards will also be presented over the course of the evening.
The Ottawa Senators Alumni will offer scholarships to young
promising individuals and will honour an Ottawa Senators Hockey
player for his community involvement. The Rehabilitation Centre
will also present a few awards, including The Rehabilitation
Centre Achievement Award to Jeff Willbond, a patient and strong
advocate of the disabled community.
Proceeds from the event “HOPE & HEROES”
will go toward the purchase of equipment and for patient care
at The Rehabilitation Centre, a subsidiary corporation of
The Ottawa Hospital. As an example, a wheelchair can cost
as much as $20,000 while other devices such as prosthetics
can range from $30,000 to $40,000, the cost of which is only
partially covered.
“We are very grateful for the support of the Ottawa
Senators Alumni,” said Dr. Dan Deforge, Physiatrist
in Chief at The Rehabilitation Centre, and host of the tour.
“The proceeds from the fundraiser will certainly help
individuals improve their quality of life.”
“HOPE & HEROES” will take place in the Confederation
Ballroom at the Westin Hotel on Wednesday March 17. Tickets
are sold at $85.00 each. For more information please call
798-5555 extension 19821 or visit the Web site at www.ohfoundation.ca.
The Ottawa Hospital Foundation’s mission is to inspire
and enable people to support the highest quality healthcare at The
Ottawa Hospital and world-class 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:
Danielle St-Aubin
Director, Communications & Marketing
The Ottawa Hospital Foundation
Tel: (613) 798-5555, ext. 12972
Cell: (613) 762-3432
dstaubin@ottawahospital.on.ca
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