Newsletter Articles:
• BIG STEPS Welcomes New Addition to the Team
• Fisher Centres CHEO’s First Line
• Sounding the Alarm on Childhood Obesity
• CIBC Commits $125,000 to CHEO Foundation’s BIG STEPS Campaign
• Making a Difference One Spine at a Time
BIG STEPS Welcomes New Addition to the Team
Summer is right around the corner and the warm temperatures have everyone getting outside to enjoy the sunshine and colorful flowers. The rejuvenation we all feel at this time of year carries over to the BIG STEPS campaign as we push forward towards our final fundraising goal. With less than $10 million left to raise towards the target of $25 million, the goal is in our sights.
Speaking of new! On April 20th the BIG STEPS campaign made a huge announcement. We announced a new number – number 12 – which happens to be the number worn by Ottawa Senator, Mike Fisher, who joined the BIG STEPS campaign as Honorary Ambassador. This is exciting news! Mike is no stranger to CHEO and the Ottawa community. He is thrilled to be joining our team and using his voice to let people know why it is so important to support CHEO financially. I invite you to read more about this generous Ottawa hockey icon and his passion for children and his community, in this edition of the BIG STEPS e-newsletter.
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of spending the morning with Max Keeping, Honourary Ambassador for the BIG STEPS campaign, as we worked together on a new campaign video. At the time, Max was preparing to deliver his final evening news broadcast that Friday evening. I could not help but reflect on my friendship over the years with Max. While my relationship to CHEO will be life-long, as a result of what the hospital and its amazing team of doctors and nurses have done for me, Max’s connection to CHEO will be a life-long one out of sheer dedication, commitment and love for the children, youth and families of this community. As a philanthropist, community leader and mentor, Max has taught me so many things. Through Max I have learned that giving my time and my voice is a great thing. It costs nothing and it makes a huge difference. Thank you Max.
In this edition of the newsletter you will meet Jane Rutherford, a Research coordinator with the Healthy Active Living and Obesity (HALO) research group at the CHEO Research Institute. Jane will highlight HALO’s role and some of the great work it is doing to develop innovative strategies to treat and prevent childhood obesity. It so happens that two major fundraising events happening in Ottawa this summer will raise funds for the Healthy Active Living and Obesity group. The annual HOPE Volleyball SummerFest will be smashing balls and the Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival will be paddling full force to raise funds for obesity research. What a great way to get moving and raise funds for BIG STEPS at the same time.
We also introduce you to Dr. Moroz one of CHEO’s orthopedic surgeons who shares his passion with us – giving children suffering from scoliosis a better and brighter future. Dr. Moroz highlights some of his work with a very special surgical device called the VEPTR™. Find out more about treating scoliosis with a VEPTR™ insert and how the BIG STEPS campaign will be contributing to the surgical needs of children living with this deforming illness.
Recently, our campaign received a BIG boost from one of our community supporters, the CIBC. Read about this financial institution’s commitment to their community and the reasons they make children a priority.
As always, I encourage you to forward this third edition of the BIG STEPS e-newsletter to your family, friends and colleagues who would be interested in learning about the BIG STEPS happening at CHEO as well as provide us with your feedback.
Thank you for your on-going support.
Charles Ofori-Attah
Campaign Chair