Media advisory - Star athletes take up the challenge for the neediest - They will attempt to climb the 1,000 steps of Place Ville-Marie in record time

MONTREAL, Nov. 23 /CNW Telbec/ - November 25, 2009 at 11:30 a.m. will mark the start of the 12th Annual RBC Challenge for Centraide, a frenetic race to the top of one of Montreal's tallest buildings to raise money for the neediest.

Sports personalities will compete against some 500 corporate employees in a relay race against the clock up the 1,000 steps to the summit of Place Ville Marie. Their challenge is to best the existing record of 2 minutes 41 seconds.

The media are invited to witness this exciting event:

    DAY:     Wednesday, November 25, 2009

    TIME:    11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

    PLACE:   1 Place Ville Marie
             (Main entrance on University Street. Assembly point on the main
             floor, south side, opposite René-Lévesque Blvd.)

The athletes who will take up this challenge are: Virginie Chénier (archery), Stéphanie Dubois (tennis), Sandra Lizé (water polo), Marie-Ève Marleau (diving) and Sandra Sassine (fencing). Paralympic athlete Lyne Tremblay (archery) will serve as the team's coach.

Michèle Thibodeau-DeGuire, President and Executive Director of Centraide of Greater Montreal, and Micheline Martin, President, Quebec Region, RBC Royal Bank, will be available for interviews.

All the proceeds from the sponsors of this sporting event will be donated to Centraide, which is aiming to raise $54 million by December 15 in order to support 360 community agencies that help 500,000 needy people in Greater Montreal.

For further information: Annick Gagnon, Centraide of Greater Montreal, [phone], ext. 242, [e-mail]