Canadians put their best foot forward and raised $2.5M in support of the
ninth annual Walk for Kids Help Phone

TORONTO, May 4 /CNW/ - On Sunday May 2nd, 15,000 Canadians from more than 50 communities across the country helped raised vital funds for Kids Help Phone, Canada's leading youth counselling service. The Walk for Kids Help Phone is the national charity's biggest fundraising event of the year, and helps ensure professional counsellors are available day or night to answer the thousands of kids who call in or post every week, looking for help, sometimes looking for a lifeline.

Kids Help Phone is grateful for the support of its long-term corporate partners and their employees, who, together with over 100 smaller businesses from across the nation, helped raise critically needed funds. Along with a substantial growth in participation at the grassroots level - more than 100 new volunteer-led community teams signed up to the event - Canadians are walking in support of the charity, helping to shape a resilient generation of children and youth.

"From the dedication of our leadership teams to the community efforts of our volunteers, I truly believe Kids Help Phone is recognized across the nation for making a difference in the lives of our kids today. Together, we are making a positive and impactful investment in kids, their families and their communities," asserts Sharon Wood, President and CEO of Kids Help Phone.

Thousands of co-workers, friends and family step forward each year as one community for one cause - kids. And this is the reason they participate in Kids Help Phone's signature event:

    
        I've been through family neglect, self-injury, double depression,
        social phobia, and suicide attempts. KHP you were there when I was
        standing outside a therapist's office by myself - too scared to go
        in. You were there when I finally threw away my razor. You were there
        as I cried into the phone at 3 in the morning. Thank you for all the
        support through all these years.
                                                 (posted to kidshelpphone.ca)
    

Bell is the founding sponsor of the Walk for Kids Help Phone. Joining Bell as sponsors of the 2010 Walk are: Air Miles, BMO Financial Group, Boston Pizza, Empire Theatre, G4S, Motorola, Nestlé Canada Inc., Parmalat, and WestJet.

For more information about the 2010 Walk for Kids Help Phone, or to view photos from events across the country, visit walkforkidshelpphone.ca.

About Kids Help Phone

Kids Help Phone is Canada's leading youth counselling services, moving kids from distress and isolation to confidence and competence. Available anytime of the day or night, in English and French, by phone and by web, it is the go-to resource for kids in Canada from five to 20 when they need help or trustworthy information on issues that are difficult for kids to discuss with anyone else. A respected national charity, Kids Help Phone is vitally dependent on individual donations and corporate support to remain available to kids looking for help; sometimes looking for a lifeline.

CNW Group is proud to be the official newswire provider for Kids Help Phone.

/NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited members of the media/

For further information: Virginia Middleton, Kids Help Phone, Communications Officer, [phone] x 8345, [email protected]