Newswise — (September 26; Toronto) There's an unmistakable sound -- the 'thwack' of a hockey stick striking a road hockey ball on pavement -- that has been readily recognizable since we were children. And on Saturday, September 26, that sound filled the parking lots of Woodbine Racetrack, mixed with the excitement a major event as THE Road Hockey to Conquer Cancer took place.
This morning, Paul Alofs, the President & CEO of The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, announced that the fifth annual Road Hockey to Conquer Cancer had attracted 141 teams totaling over 1,400 participants, and raised an astonishing $2.4 million for Personalized Cancer Medicine at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, one of the top 5 cancer research centres in the world.
"This is a very special event," said Alofs. "There is something uniquely Canadian about playing road hockey on a perfect September day. We thank all of the players, their donors, the volunteers and our sponsors for making our fifth Road Hockey to Conquer Cancer event so amazing. The funds raised will help The Princess Margaret continue to lead the way in Personalized Cancer Medicine, the new gold standard in cancer care."
The event also established two Guinness World Records: most participants in a one-day fundraising road hockey event and most funds raised by a one-day fundraising road hockey event. Representatives from Guinness were on hand to observe today’s Road Hockey to Conquer Cancer event and confirm the numbers.
Road Hockey to Conquer Cancer is a non-competitive event, where the winners are those participating as well, of course, as those benefiting from the funds raised. But there are three trophies presented. The Corporate Challenge Cup for the top fundraising corporation was Hatch (for the fourth consecutive year) who raised a staggering $217,609.95. The Top Fundraising Team trophy went to the Ovarian Blitzers, led by The Princess Margaret’s Dr. Marcus Bernardini, a gynecological surgeon, who raised $91,882.35. Dr. Bernardini was also the Top Fundraising Individual, raising $50,560.35.
Shawn Burt, the Chief Hockey Officer at The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, proudly stated, “Having the extraordinary support of these fundraising champions is a true game changer for Road Hockey to Conquer Cancer, and we thank them sincerely for their leadership in this amazing event. But everyone’s support is so important to the event, and will help cancer patients in Toronto, across Canada and around the world.”
Top fundraising teams also had the opportunity to draft one of 70 celebrities onto their team, and mingling amidst participants were hockey stars such as Darryl Sittler, Marcel Dionne, Glenn Anderson and Johnny Bower, the ‘Old Spice Guy’ Isaiah Mustafa, Olympians Elizabeth Manley and Hilary Knight and Toronto Blue Jays great, Kelly Gruber.
Shawn Burt spoke for all participants when he added, “It was just a perfect day in every conceivable way.”
About Road Hockey to Conquer CancerRoad Hockey to Conquer Cancer is a dawn-to-dusk fundraising event for The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, this year taking place on Saturday, September 26 at Woodbine Racetrack in Etobicoke. More than 2,000 participants are expected this fall for the milestone fifth anniversary of the event. In the previous four years, more than $9 million has been raised for Personalized Cancer Medicine at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, one of the top 5 cancer research centres in the world.
About Princess Margaret Cancer Centre The Princess Margaret Cancer Centre has achieved an international reputation as a global leader in the fight against cancer and delivering Personalized Cancer Medicine. The Princess Margaret, one of the top 5 cancer research centres in the world, is a member of the University Health Network, which also includes Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital and Toronto Rehabilitation Institute. All are research hospitals affiliated with the University of Toronto. www.theprincessmargaret.ca
About The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation at University Health Network is raising funds to lead the way in Personalized Cancer Medicine at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, one of the top 5 cancer research centres in the world, which includes The Campbell Family Cancer Research Institute and The Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research. www.thepmcf.ca
For further information, contact:Kevin SheaDirector, Public RelationsThe Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation[email protected]416-946-2898
RSS