CHUM professionals prepare for the Défi Onco Cardio-Vélo

Cycling fundraiser to fight the two leading causes of death in Canada

MONTREAL, Aug. 26, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - The starting point of the Défi Onco Cardio-Vélo, a 275 km cycle ride from Montreal to Quebec City organized by two CHUM doctors, Dr. Pierre Laramée, a cardiologist, and Dr. Paul Perrotte, a uro-oncologist and president of the Council of Physicians, Dentists and Pharmacists, will take place on September 6^th at 7:30 A.M. at the Pavillon S* of the Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM). They will be leading a score of cyclists, including some from the CHUM community, who are ready to take on the challenge to raise funds for their hospital's foundation.

Formerly the Défi Montréal-Québec, the event was renamed the Défi Onco Cardio-Vélo (or DOC-Vélo) this year to mark the new partnership of the two doctors and to underline the event's aim of helping to fight the two leading causes of death in Canada: cancer and cardiovascular disease. These are also the areas of specialization of the two doctors.

As Dr. Laramée and Dr. Perrotte point out, the DOC-Vélo event salutes the courage and determination of their patients. The physicians will ride with their patients very much in mind, finding motivation in the strength and courage they demonstrate in facing the challenges of their illnesses.

Since 2012, the DOC-Vélo has helped raise $136,000 for the Fondation du CHUM, funds that have helped to provide the best care to the hospital's patients. Money raised from this third running of the event will go toward improving care and supporting research.

*Pavillon S of the CRCHUM is located at the corner of Saint-Antoine and St-Denis.

About the Fondation du CHUM
Placing the patient at the heart of its commitment, the mission of the Fondation du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) is to support one of the largest teaching hospital centres in North America. Thanks to the generosity of its donors, the Fondation is able to provide a source of complementary funding to the CHUM, thus helping to maintain its position as an international benchmark. Since its inception in 1998, the Fondation has contributed more than $120 million to the hospital, helping it to acquire advanced equipment, supporting research projects leading to the development of promising treatments, and financing medical training and health promotion. The Fondation also relies on the support of its Clinique Santé-voyage and Clinique Santé-préventive, from which all profits go directly to the Fondation. Giving Ourselves the Best in Healthcare. fondationduchum.com

Image with caption: "CHUM doctors, Dr. Pierre Laramée, cardiologist, and Dr. Paul Perrotte, uro-oncologist and president of the Council of Physicians, Dentists and Pharmacists. (CNW Group/Fondation du CHUM)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140826_C2581_PHOTO_EN_5139.jpg

SOURCE: Fondation du CHUM

Elodie Grange, Director, Communications and Marketing, Fondation du CHUM, 514 890-8361, [email protected]