Subaru Triathlon Series Makes Every Race Count Towards Ronald McDonald House Charities

MISSISSAUGA, ON, June 20, 2014 /CNW/ - The Subaru Triathlon Series, in conjunction with title sponsor Subaru Canada, Inc. (SCI), is thrilled to kick start its program, Nights of Family Comfort, with a season fundraising goal of $25,000 for its official charity of choice, Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada.  Under the program, athletes can choose to race on behalf of the Ronald McDonald House (RMH) of their choice. To bring awareness to the initiative, the Ontario Subaru Dealers Advertising Association will contribute up to $5,000 towards the reimbursement of registration fees for participants. At this weekend's triathlon event – held at Guelph Lake Conservation Area on June 21-22 – RMH Toronto will be on site with a family, speaking to participants about their experience at the House and presenting medals at the awards ceremony following the race.  Local Subaru dealer, Gemini Motors, will also be on site to assist at the Guelph Lake event.

The main focus of the program involves the four Houses across Ontario (Hamilton, London, Ottawa or Toronto), but donations across Canada will be accepted. The more the athlete raises, the greater the benefits for all. The highest earners have the opportunity to win valuable triathlon gear and race entries. All athletes and partners have the ability to make a one-time contribution or create their own personalized fundraising page to collect donations online at www.friendsofrmhc.ca. As it takes just $125 to offer One Night of Family Comfort at a Ronald McDonald House, an athlete who raises a minimum two nights of comfort (equivalent of $250) for families also earns a race rebate of $50.00 from the Ontario Subaru Dealers Advertising Association.

"Subaru is thrilled to help the Subaru Triathlon Series make every race count with its Nights of Family Comfort initiative, benefitting Ronald McDonald House Charities," said Shiro Ohta, president and CEO of Subaru Canada, Inc.  "We view our involvement as a way to ensure that caring people and great organizations get the help they need to make their presence felt in communities across the country."

Ronald McDonald Houses provide a home away from home for families of seriously ill children just steps away from the hospital where their child is undergoing medical treatment. Together, Ronald McDonald Houses create a local community of family healing, ensuring that wherever a family has to travel to get medical treatment for a sick child, there is always a little bit of home waiting to support them at their local Ronald McDonald House.

Ronald McDonald Houses are community houses; each of the 14 Ronald McDonald Houses across Canada is independently owned and operated and relies on active contributions and support from individual donors, corporations and charitable groups in their communities. The average cost to operate a bedroom in a Ronald McDonald House is $125.00 a night. Thanks to the support of RMH's many partners, families pay just $11 per night on average and no family is ever turned away due to their inability to pay. Support from events like the Subaru Triathlon Series will help Ronald McDonald Houses provide more than 20,000 families of seriously ill children with a safe and comfortable place to stay.

"We are so thrilled to have the support of the Subaru family as part of the Subaru Triathlon Series," said Cathy Loblaw, President and CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities. "Subaru has been a longstanding partner to our Houses in helping sick children heal with their families, and it is through the support of our amazing partners like Subaru that we hope to serve 20,000 families in 2014."

Subaru Canada is a long-time supporter of active lifestyles, proudly sponsoring a number of triathlon and running events. Each one offers competitors of all ages and skill levels a chance to compete in a variety of events from coast to coast, from kids' fun runs and introductory triathlons, to elite Subaru Triathlon Series competitions. To find out more about Subaru-supported triathlon or running events, please visit www.trisportcanada.com (Ontario), www.triseries.ca (Western Canada) or www.trinb.ca (Eastern Canada). To learn more about fundraising opportunities, please contact janet.fraser@ironman.com.

About Ronald McDonald Charities® (RMHC®) Canada:
In 1982, Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada was founded to be the everlasting organization that would support Ronald McDonald Houses and their programs in Canada. Ronald McDonald Houses provide a home away from home for out of town families with sick children being treated at a nearby hospital. Today, 14 Ronald McDonald Houses serve more than 10,000 families each year. By 2014 that support will grow to serving over 20,000 families. Completing our circle of support for Canadians is the Ronald McDonald Family Room® program providing an oasis of calm and support right inside the walls of the Hospital – today there are nine Family Rooms across Canada, and two Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles™.

Website:             www.rmhc.ca
Facebook:           RMHC Canada

About Subaru Canada, Inc.
Subaru Canada, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. of Japan. Headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of over 85 authorized dealers across Canada. For more information, please visit www.subaru.ca or www.pr.subaru.ca or follow @Subaru_Canada on Twitter.

SOURCE: Subaru Canada Inc.

For further information: Joe Felstein, (905) 568-4959, jfelstein@subaru.ca; Daniel Ponzini, (905) 568-4959, dponzini@subaru.ca; Amyot Bachand, Media Relations, Quebec Region, (514) 691-9276, abachand@subaru.ca

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