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2004 News Releases
For immediate release - May 30, 2004
THE OTTAWA HOSPITAL FOUNDATION RAISES $410,000 AT 2004 NATIONAL
CAPITAL RACE WEEKEND
(OTTAWA, ONTARIO) – Thanks to the efforts
of thousands of supporters in the community, The Ottawa Hospital
Foundation raised $410,000 as part of the 30th annual Ottawa Hospital
Fundraising Challenge during the National Capital Race Weekend.
As in previous years, runners, walkers, in-line skaters and their
supporters donated or collected pledges to ensure the success of
the fundraising effort.
“This has been a tremendous experience for me. I am really
inspired by the thousands of people who run and raise money for
this important cause every year,” said John Manley, champion
for the Fundraising Challenge who reached his goal of personally
raising $10,000.
“This event is tremendously important to The Ottawa Hospital
and to the community as a whole,” said Susan Doyle, President
and CEO of The Ottawa Hospital Foundation. “We are truly thankful
for the support we received from both individuals and organizations.”
“Every year, the Race Weekend successfully combines athletics
and fundraising to bring in essential funds for The Ottawa Hospital,”
said Susan Longbottom, President of the National Capital Race Weekend
and Clinical Manager at The Ottawa Hospital. “We are grateful
for the thousands of individuals who dedicate their time and energy
to making it happen, including the race committee, community partners,
volunteers, sponsors, fundraisers and, of course, the participants!”
In the past, fundraising by Race Weekend participants has raised
$2.5 million for the Women’s Breast Health Centre, as well
as prostate, colorectal and lung cancer assessment centres at The
Ottawa Hospital. Proceeds from this year’s Fundraising Challenge
will help fund a number of improvements in patient care at the Civic,
General and Riverside campuses of The Ottawa Hospital, including:
- Doubling the size of the emergency departments and converting
them into state-of-the-art facilities
- Doubling the number of beds in the intensive care units of the
Civic and General Campuses
- Adding 17 new, state-of-the-art operating rooms
- Purchasing vital diagnostic equipment such as a CT scanner to
be located in the emergency department of the Civic Campus
- Developing new, specialized out-patient care centers for diabetes
and lipids care
The 30-year relationship between The Ottawa Hospital and the National
Capital Race Weekend began back in 1975 at the first National Capital
Marathon when a small group of nurses and doctors from the former
Civic Hospital Emergency Department volunteered to form a medical
team. Their mission was to ensure the safety of all runners as they
strove to reach their personal goals. That mission remains. In fact,
the medical team is credited with saving the life of more than one
race participant over the years.
With its 1,130 beds, The Ottawa Hospital
is one of the largest teaching hospitals in Canada and one of the
Ottawa area’s largest employers. It provides comprehensive,
high quality, patient-focused health care services, in English and
French, to over 1.5 million residents of Eastern Ontario, and specialized
and complex services for residents of Northeastern Ontario. 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
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.
The National Capital Race Weekend,
Canada's premier running festival, combines competition, participation
and fundraising to make a distinctive contribution to the health
of the community. The Race Weekend has over 20,000 participants
in nine races, including the ING Ottawa Marathon. It is run by a
volunteer board of directors. This year, the Race Weekend is scheduled
for the May 28-30 weekend and the ING Ottawa Marathon will feature
a one-loop course for the first time in over 10 years.
For more information, please contact:
Carl Martin
Vice-President, Communications & Marketing, The Ottawa Hospital
Foundation
Tel: (613) 798-5555, ext. 17840
Cell: (613) 762-3432
camartin@ottawahospital.on.ca
Danielle St-Aubin
Director, Communications & Marketing, The Ottawa Hospital Foundation
Tel: (613) 798-5555, ext. 12972
dstaubin@ottawahospital.on.ca
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