May 6, 2004
Toronto's one-of-a-kind Mother's Day event: A hug for SickKids to raise hope, awareness and funds to support paediatric brain tumour research Third Annual Meagan's Walk: Creating a Circle of Hope
WHAT: Held on Mother’s Day May 9, Meagan’s Walk is a 5 km walk kicking off at Ontario Place and ending at The Hospital for Sick Children with participants forming what is believed to be a world first – hundreds of participants embracing a building. This human hug sends a powerful message of hope to the children and families within. Funds raised through Meagan’s Walk support paediatric brain tumour research at SickKids.
Meagan Bebenek was four years old when she was diagnosed with brain stem glioma, a cancerous brain tumour. She passed away two weeks after her fifth birthday in 2001. The community where she lived has rallied to support her family in their mission to raise hope, awareness and research funding for paediatric brain tumours through this one-of a-kind event.
WHO: Meagan’s family and friends, SickKids doctors and staff, and hundreds of walkers.
THE WALK: 9 a.m. Registration at Ontario Place in the east parking lot at 955 Lakeshore Blvd West.
10 a.m. Ribbon Cutting Walk Kick Off. Participants will proceed to The Hospital for Sick Children at 555 University Avenue.
THE HUG: The walk ends at 11:30 a.m. at SickKids where participants will circle the four square block building—every thousand participants form one complete hug around the hospital.
To complete the Hug, Denise Bebenek (Meagan’s Mother and the driving force behind the Walk); Dr James Rutka, co-director of the Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre at The Hospital for Sick Children will speak briefly at Noon. Participants will enjoy a lively street party with food and music on Elm Street (which is closed to traffic until 4 p.m.)
NOTE: Media can arrange to interview speakers and participants at the stage at Elm and University.
CONTACTS: For logistics/questions or to schedule an interview with Denise Bebenek:
Claire M. Tallarico at (416) 690-0316.
Visuals/Audio Live feeds available: For best media/visual vantage points please call Claire or on Sunday call pager (416) 370-5295.
Brain tumours are the leading cause of cancerous deaths among children under the age of 20. More than 200 Canadian children are diagnosed with brain tumours each year with approximately 100 cases at The Hospital for Sick Children alone. Brain tumours are the second most common cancer in children, with incidence increasing at a rate of one to two per cent per year. The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre at SickKids is one of the most comprehensive in the world.
The Hospital for Sick Children, affiliated with the University of Toronto, is Canada’s most research-intensive hospital and the largest centre dedicated to improving children’s health in the country. Its mission is to provide the best in family-centred, compassionate care, to lead in scientific and clinical advancement, and to prepare the next generation of leaders in child health. For more information, please visit www.sickkids.ca.
For more information, please contact:
Public Affairs
The Hospital for Sick Children
555 University Avenue
Suite 1742, Public Affairs, First floor Atrium
Toronto,
ON
M5G 1X8
Canada
Phone: 416-813-5058
Fax: 416-813-5328