Star athletes and office workers race to the top of the Place Ville Marie tower for Centraide's cause

The RBC Challenge raises a record $133,000

MONTREAL, Nov. 21, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - The theme of this year's Centraide campaign, "Donating is uplifting," took on all its meaning this noon during an original activity aimed at raising funds to fight poverty. A team of star athletes competed against 450 employees from various companies on the occasion of the 15^th annual RBC Challenge for Centraide, a relay race up the 1,000 steps of the 41 flights of the emblematic Place Ville Marie tower.

The architectural "Grande Dame of Montreal," which is celebrating its 50^th anniversary this year, was literally stormed in the name of generosity and physical activity. The goal was to beat the existing record by racing to the top of the tower in less than 2 minutes 41 seconds. A record of generosity was achieved during the event, which raised $133,000, or $31,000 more than last year.

This benefit contest featured a team of star athletes who generously agreed to take up the challenge: former Montreal Alouettes football player Steve Charbonneau, swimmer Benoit Huot, diver Roseline Filion, kayakist Hugues Fournel, fencer Etienne Lalonde-Turbide, water polo player Sandra Lizé and fencer Sandra Sassine. They were coached by sledge hockey player Benoit St-Amand and wheelchair basketball player David Eng.

All the proceeds, derived from corporate sponsorships and donations, will be donated to Centraide's 2012 campaign, whose goal is to raise $60 million by December 11. The campaign aims to support over 370 community agencies that help 500,000 needy people in Greater Montreal.

This benefit sports event was organized by RBC in cooperation with Place Ville Marie.

About RBC

Royal Bank of Canada (RY on TSX and NYSE) and its subsidiaries operate under the master brand name RBC. It is Canada's largest bank as measured by assets and market capitalization, and among the largest banks in the world, based on market capitalization. RBC is one of North America's leading diversified financial services companies and provides personal and commercial banking, wealth management, insurance, corporate and investment banking and transaction processing services on a global basis. RBC employs approximately 79,000 full- and part-time employees who serve close to 16 million personal, business, public sector and institutional clients through offices in Canada, the U.S. and 56 other countries. For more information, please visit www.rbc.com.

About Centraide

Centraide is a major driving force for bringing together human and financial resources to fight poverty, break social exclusion, reduce inequalities and prevent social problems. Centraide's annual campaign mobilizes 23,000 volunteers and 2,100 companies to help families and youth in difficulty, seniors, newcomers and people with disabilities on the Island of Montreal, in Laval and on the South Shore.

People wishing to make a donation can do so by dialing 514 288-1261 or visiting Centraide's website at www.centraide-mtl.org. Videos about Centraide's work can be viewed at www.youtube.com/CentraideMtl.

SOURCE: CENTRAIDE OF GREATER MONTREAL

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

Raymond Chouinard, RBC
Tel.: [phone]
[e-mail]

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