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Another successful Manulife Bike and Hike for Heart! Waterloo -- A record number of cyclists, walkers and volunteers took part in the 11th annual Manulife Bike and Hike for Heart (formerly Manulife Ride for Heart) today as organizers continue to tally donations toward fighting one of Canada’s number one killers – heart disease. More than $145,000 was collected Sunday, exceeding the one-day total reached in 2002. Organizers expect to meet their goal of $175,000 for this year's Bike and Hike by June 30, the final day to turn in donations. Since 2000, all donations raised during the event go toward supporting St. Mary's Regional Cardiac Care Centre in Kitchener. “We’ve always been appreciative of the community’s overwhelming support for heart health and the cardiac centre,” says Bruce Antonello, president and CEO of St. Mary’s General Hospital. “The Manulife Bike and Hike has yet again surpassed itself helping us to our goal. Everyone involved should be proud of their contribution to make Waterloo Region a model community for heart health.” “With the addition of the walk component, the Bike and Hike is a great way for people of varying abilities to support healthy hearts and lifestyles,” says Bruce Gordon, Manulife Financial's Executive Vice President and General Manager of Canadian Operations. “It allows all of us to have fun, exercise and help ensure our community’s long-term health.” Sunday morning’s events began with breakfast at 7:30 a.m. for Corporate Challenge Teams – 80 teams of cyclists and walkers from local businesses and organizations that turned out in record numbers this year. At 9 a.m., wheels began rolling as cyclists set off on 20- and 40-km tours through the streets of Kitchener-Waterloo. Walkers strolled along their three- and five-kilometre courses at RIM Park. Donations raised for the 2003 Bike and Hike will support St. Mary’s Regional Cardiac Care Centre, which will provide cardiac catheterization, cardiac surgery, angioplasty, cardiac care clinics and cardiac rehabilitation. The program, serving 500,000 residents in the Waterloo Region and surrounding area, offers diagnostics, intensive care and inpatient cardiac care in a full-service program. Here are approximate results of the 2003 Manulife Bike and Hike for Heart: Number of cyclists and walkers: 1,200+ Number of volunteers: 300+ Total donations collected on Sunday, June 8, 2003: More than $145,000 (Organizers expect this year's goal of $175,000 will be surpassed by June 30. Last year, the total raised was $162,000) (Note: Participants have until June 30, 2003 to submit their donations) Winner of the Corporate Challenge “Golden Wheel Award” for the corporate team raising the largest amount of donations per person: Gold – Equitable Life of Canada Silver – St. Mary’s General Hospital Administration team Bronze - Christie Digital Systems Inc. (formerly Electrohome) - 30 - Media contact: Tom Nunn Director of Media Relations Manulife Financial Tel: 519/594-8578 Cell: 519/580-9517 tom_nunn@manulife.com |
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