Canadian Paraplegic Association Ontario Raises the Bar on Spinal Cord Injury Awareness

For Immediate Release: September 16, 2008 

MEDIA ADVISORY

Attention: Assignment, News, Sports, Health and Lifestyle, Weekend and Photo Editors  

Canadian Paraplegic Association Ontario Raises the Bar on Spinal Cord Injury Awareness 

Life can change in an instant 

Join CPA Ontario and help us raise awareness about the issues of spinal cord injury across the province. 

Why:  We are once again staging our fun-filled Wheelchair Relay Challenge events across the province. The events are for everyone including corporate partners and all members of the community. The event helps raise funds to support our programs and services in the communities where the events take place. There are a number of great stories about outstanding people living with a spinal cord injury in communities right across the province that are waiting to be told. 

Who We Are:Our mission is to assist persons 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. 

The Issue is staggering:

• A spinal cord injury can happen to anyone at any time.
• There is approximately one spinal cord injury a day in Ontario.
• 84% of injuries happen to people under the age of 34.
• 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. 63 years after the founding of the Canadian Paraplegic Association the survival rate of an individual who sustains an injury is 85-90%.

 How You Can Help:We want to raise awareness about people living with spinal cord injuries in Ontario. We want people to understand what it means when a person’s life changes in an instant – how easily it can happen. Greater understanding will help raise awareness of the sometimes huge barriers that people living with a spinal cord injury face on a daily basis. Ultimately, we want people to know that their actions do count and hopefully with their help, barriers can be removed. 

• Included in this package and 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 throughout September and October during our big event period 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.

• During September and October, CPA Ontario will be holding its Wheelchair Relay Challenges across the province. The event is an opportunity for all individuals to better understand the experience of using a wheelchair, and help gain greater understanding about perceived barriers, and join together for fun, understanding and cooperation.

The Wheelchair Relay Challenge is a major CPA Ontario fundraising initiative. 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.

This year, the Wheelchair Relay Challenges will take place in the following locations:  

Sept 20th:

Ottawa: (Location) Terry Fox Athletic Facility (Mooney's Bay), (Contact) Wendy Knechtel 613-723-1033 x222 Wendy.knechtel@cpaont.org

Hamilton: (Location) Saltfleet Secondary School, 108 Highland Road West, Stoney Creek, (Contact) Mary Dilly 905-383-0216 Mary.dilly@cpaont.org 

Kitchener- Waterloo: (Location) Country Hills Community Centre, Kitchener (Contact) Cassandra Lebel 519-433-2331 Cassandra.lebel@cpaont.org

Sept 21st:

Toronto: (Location) Yorkdale Shopping Centre, North East Lot (Dufferin & 410)(Contact) Lynn Mineque 416-422-5644 x221 lmineque@cpaont.org

Sept 28th:         

Barrie: (Location) Barrie City Hall, Collier St.,  Barrie (Contact) Jackie Bloom 705-726-4546 Jackie.bloom@cpaont.org

October 5th:

South Simcoe (Alliston): (Location) Gibson Transport Yard, Church St., Alliston (Contact) Jackie Bloom 705-726-4546 Jackie.bloom@cpaont.org

October 18th: 

Orillia: (Location) Couchiching Park, Orillia (Contact) Jackie Bloom 705-726-4546 Jackie.bloom@cpaont.org

October 15:    

Brantford: (Location) Boys and Girls Club, 2 Edge Street, Brantford (Contact) Mary Dilly 905-383-0216 Mary.dilly@cpaont.org

October 25 :  

Thunder Bay: (Location) Lakehead University Hanger, Oliver Road, Thunder Bay (Contact) Gary Ferguson 807-344-3743 Gary.ferguson@cpaont.org  

November 15th:

London: (Location) Carling Heights Optimist Centre, London (Contact) Cassandra Lebel 519-433-2331 Cassandra.lebel@cpaont.org   

 

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For further information, photos, and interviews, please contact:

Gillian Lynne-Davies

Communications Coordinator

CPA Ontario

(T) 416-422-5644 x 212

Email: gillian.lynne-davies@cpaont.org