Canada's largest running event names national charity
OTTAWA, ON - Wednesday April 12, 2006 –The Ottawa Race Weekend, Canada’s largest running event, today announced its first national charity partnership with the Canadian Athletes Now Fund, a not-for-profit organization devoted to helping Canadian athletes. With over 30,000 runners, walkers and skaters expected for the May 27-28th event, featuring the ING Ottawa Marathon and the MDS Nordion 10K, the new partnership represents a golden opportunity for Canadian athletes. It is the first time the Canadian Athletes Now Fund has been selected as a national charity and comes on the heels of the very successful performance by our Canadian winter athletes.
“The Ottawa Race Weekend has always believed in making a long-term commitment to supporting Canadian athletes,” says Susan Longbottom, Ottawa Race Weekend President. “We were among the first to offer Canadian-only prize money for a marathon and we host the Canadian Marathon Championships. By designating the Canadian Athletes Now Fund as our national charity, our event will give a brighter future to Canadian athletes in all sports.”
The Canadian Athletes Now Fund (www.canadianathletescom.com), formerly known as the See You In Torino Fund, is a national not-for-profit organization devoted to raising financial support and awareness for Canada’s athletes. The Fund was set up to help Canadian athletes get ready for international summer and winter competitions. Donations are put directly into the hands of athletes, to support their training, equipment needs, travel, coaching and proper nutrition, in addition to offset living expenses. Since 1997, the Fund has raised in excess of $3.5 million and directly assisted more than 500 athletes, including Paralympians, with their dreams of competing for Canada.
“The goal of the Canadian Athletes Now Fund is to underwrite the expenses of as many Canadian athletes as possible, as support is needed years before medals can be realized,” says Ottawa native and founder Jane Roos. “This is what makes this commitment from the Ottawa Race Weekend so important. Their vision is over years not weeks, and it will allow us to directly impact the lives of more Canadian athletes, invest in their pursuit of excellence and their outrageous goal to be the best in the world and wear the maple leaf!”
For a lot of Canadian athletes, the road to the Beijing in 2008 will start in Ottawa. 2006 Olympic gold medal hockey player Gillian Ferrari knows what it takes to be the best in the world and is a recipient of the Canadian Athletes Now Fund. “I know how much the Fund meant to me and my team mates, the direct financial support really helps more than anyone will ever know,” says Ferrari. “That is why I am here to pay it forward and support the summer athletes in their journey. I will be running the MDS Nordion 5K during the Ottawa Race Weekend and I challenge all Canadians to run with me.”
“The Canadian Athletes Now Fund is inviting 2008 passionate and proud Canadians to run, walk, and skate for our Canadian athletes with a goal of raising $2008 each,” says Roos. “When you join the Canadian Athletes Now Team you will find out which summer athlete your Ottawa Race Weekend donations will support.”
Another way the Fund will support athletes is through the Coppers to Gold program. Runners are encouraged to bring a jar of change to the Canadian Athletes Now Fund booth at the Pfizer Health & Fitness Expo and help athletes by donating their spare change in hopes of changing copper into a future gold medal.
