Media Advisory - The Toronto Wheelchair Relay Challenge

Life Can Change in an Instant

TORONTO , Sept. 17 /CNW/ - For the 14th year, the Canadian Paraplegic Association Ontario is staging our fun-filled Toronto Wheelchair Relay Challenge. The event is for people with and without disabilities to raise funds for programs and services for people with spinal cord injuries as they re-build their lives.

    
    -   At the Toronto Wheelchair Relay Challenge there will be great
        potential story ideas and photo opportunities. Here are a few:

        - Meet Rob...
        Rob is a newly injured, young family man whose friends rallied
        together to help him out after his injury. Friends and family
        participated in the Ride for Rob - http://www.rideforrob.ca/ raising
        money for him and the Canadian Paraplegic Association Ontario. Rob
        will be at the Toronto Wheelchair Relay Challenge as a participant.
        There will also be opportunities to talk to peer support volunteers
        about what it means to be a peer or have one when you are first
        injured.

        - The Wild Wheeled Women...
        Six women get together every Thursday night and Sunday afternoon to
        work-out, talk about nutrition and support one another in every
        healthy way possible. Together they have lost over 125 pounds. Each
        happens to use a wheelchair. The Wild Wheeled Women team is getting
        together to show their stuff this Sunday to race in the Toronto
        Wheelchair Relay Challenge. Interviews can be arranged. Photo Opps
        available.

    -   On our website at www.cpaont.org/media are several personal stories
        about people like you and me, whose lives have been affected by a
        spinal cord injury. Please feel free to use these stories in your
        publication so that others become aware of people in their own
        communities living with spinal cord injuries. If you would like to
        interview any of these people, please contact me and I will arrange
        it.

    -   Located on our website at www.cpaont.org/media are 6 different
        posters of people with spinal cord injuries demonstrating living life
        to the fullest. Please use these posters in your publications and
        other communications.

    When:
    This Sunday, September 20th, at 9 am until 12pm.

    Where:
    Yorkdale Shopping Centre in the north-east parking lot.

    Why:
    -   A spinal cord injury can happen to anyone at any time.
    -   There is approximately one spinal cord injury a day in Ontario.
    -   The highest incidence of injury is to individuals in the age range of
        20-29 and also, to those over 70 years of age.
    -   A spinal cord injury is one of the most traumatic events that can
        happen in a person's life.
    -   Prior to 1945, only 10% of people who experienced a spinal cord
        injury were expected to survive beyond one year. 64 years after the
        founding of the Canadian Paraplegic Association, the survival rate of
        an individual who sustains an injury is 85-90%.
    

About the Toronto Wheelchair Relay Challenge:

The Wheelchair Relay Challenge is a major CPA Ontario fundraising initiative. Relays are held in different communities across the province. Funds raised in each community go toward supporting CPA Ontario programs and services in that community. Your support will help us continue to provide people living with a spinal cord injury with the specialized programs and services they need to conquer the physical and psychological barriers to regaining independence, and their subsequent reintegration into society.

Who We Are:

Canadian Paraplegic Association Ontario's mission is to assist people with spinal cord injuries and other physical disabilities to achieve independence, self-reliance and full community participation. Since 1945, CPA Ontario has provided programs and services to people with a spinal cord injury including community counselling, peer to peer support, employment services, attendant services, advocacy support, membership services and information services.

For further information: photos, and interviews, please contact: Gillian Lynne-Davies, Communications Coordinator, Canadian Paraplegic Association Ontario, (T) [phone] x 212, (C) [phone], Email: [email protected]