MAY 26 2018, OTTAWA, ON – As runners crossed over the finish line this weekend, hundreds did so knowing they were having an extra impact. Not only were many attempting a personal best, but also they had pledged their support of The Ottawa Hospital, through the Scotiabank Charity Challenge. This year, the annual fundraiser at Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend, surpassed a total of $11 million, raised over the past 22 years.
This year alone, 438 fundraisers registered to Run for a Reason raising $310,000. Funds raised through The Ottawa Hospital’s Run for a Reason support world-class patient care, the purchase of new state-of-the-art equipment, and support innovative research.
Tim Kluke, President and CEO of The Ottawa Hospital Foundation, says this is an inspirational way to give back and improve health care in our community. “Each person who registered to Run for a Reason this year, has their personal story. They take that story and use it as their motivation to help support our community’s most important health care centre by ensuring our doctors, researchers, and nurses have the tools they need to treat the most complex cases in eastern Ontario.”
Run for a Reason had 19 teams register to fundraise this year, including Team PIPR. This year marked the 10th anniversary of PIPR – Partners Investing in Parkinson’s research. More than 100,000 Canadians live with Parkinson’s, including 8,000 here in Ottawa. Parkinson’s is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that primarily affects voluntary, controlled movement. In ten years, Team PIPR has raised $1.2 million for leading edge Parkinson Research at The Ottawa Hospital.
Roberta Driscoll has been with the team since the beginning. “My husband has Parkinson’s and I see how the progression of this disease is altering his quality of life. Since we created PIPR ten years ago, we’ve seen advancements in research at The Ottawa Hospital. PIPR has not only helped fund research for the treatment and to find a cure for Parkinson’s disease, but it has also galvanized the community to support a cause that previously received little attention. Our team has given hope to those living with Parkinson’s, like my husband.”
“Our team has given hope to those living with Parkinson’s, like my husband.” Roberta Driscoll
The Ottawa Hospital is one of Canada’s largest learning and research hospitals, with more than 1,100 beds, approximately 12,000 staff members and an annual budget of about $1.2 billion.
Our focus on learning and research helps us develop new and innovative ways to treat patients and improve care. As a multi-campus hospital affiliated with the University of Ottawa, we deliver specialized care to the Eastern Ontario region, but our techniques and research discoveries are adopted around the world. We engage the community at all levels to support our vision for better patient care.
From the compassion of our people to the relentless pursuit of new discoveries, The Ottawa Hospital never stops seeking solutions to the most complex health-care challenges. For more information about The Ottawa Hospital, visit ohfoundation.ca.
