BIG STEPS Taskforce

Mike Fisher

Joins CHEO Team as Honourary Ambassador of CHEO's BIGS STEPS Campaign

CHEO's current campaign to raise $25 million for research and equipment got a huge boost when it was announced that Ottawa Senator, Mike Fisher was the new Honourary Ambassador of CHEO's BIG STEPS Campaign. Mr. Fisher joins current Honorary Ambassador Max Keeping and former CHEO patient, and Chair of the campaign, Charles Ofori–Attah, in support of CHEO's latest campaign that will raise funds to attract the best research minds, physicians and health care providers to our hospital and equip them with the advanced tools and technologies they need to care for and cure our kids.

Mike Fisher made his first visit to CHEO in December of 1999, when as a rookie with the Senators, he attended the players Christmas visit to the hospital. During that visit Mike saw how the players presence at the hospital made the children smile, and from that day forward he has had a growing interest in helping the institutions that care for the children and youth of our community.

"When I visit CHEO I see the difference that the amazing care provided can make in a child's life. CHEO affects us all. Even if you don't have kids, you probably have friends who do or you have nieces or nephews, and it's just so important that our kids are looked after and cared for. That's why I am supporting the BIG STEPS Campaign. The kids deserve the best treatment possible so I would like to encourage people to be generous knowing that their support is going to a great cause and will make a difference in the life of a child," said Mike Fisher.

Fred Bartlett, CEO and President of the CHEO Foundation said "The BIG STEPS Campaign is an incredibly important initiative that will help the hospital make strategic investments in research, equipment and technology. We are thrilled to have Mike on board as Honourary Ambassador of the campaign. Over the years we have watched Mike's dedication to children and youth continue to grow. His involvement in the BIG STEPS Campaign is a natural next step in this growth."

Listen to Mike Fisher’s Campaign Message

Charles Ofori-Attah – Chair

Carleton University student

Charles was diagnosed as an infant with sickle cell disease and later on osteoporosis. Charles was a CHEO patient from the age of eight to 18. While he graduated from CHEO two years ago, his commitment to CHEO will continue for the rest of his life. "Through CHEO I have been given a second chance," explains Charles. Charles believes CHEO and medical research saved his life and that is one of the many reason he is so eager to give back and thrilled to be a part of the Big Steps Campaign. "By giving to the Big Steps Campaign you are giving to your community, you are investing in, and strengthening your community.

In 2005 Charles held the title of CHEO Champion Child. Each year children are chosen from each province for the Forester's Champions Across Canada Program. As CHEO champion, Charles was the voice for the thousands of children and youth that visit CHEO every year.

Watch the CTV interview with Charles

Ken Ages - Vice President

Paramount Properties

One of the main reasons Ken is supporting the BIG STEPS Campaign is because he knows that CHEO has touched the lives of so many of Paramount Properties' 6,500 residents and 150 employees. "CHEO touches the lives, directly and indirectly, of almost everyone in this community. CHEO is a noble, first class facility that is helping children….and the children are our future."

John Bassi - President

Bassi Construction & Masonry Ltd.

John is pleased to be joining the BIG STEPS task force and have the opportunity to give back to the community that his family and business have been a part of for decades. With a young family himself, John understands the importance of having a hospital like CHEO in the community. "I know CHEO has helped my family, the families of my business associates and friends and neighbours. People in this area are quick to rally together to support a cause and by raising money for the BIG STEPS Campaign, we are strengthening CHEO for children now and in the future."

Gary Cameron - VP Professional Services

Bell Canada

Gary has been involved with CHEO through Bell since 1993. Joining the BIG STEPS Campaign Taskforce Team seemed like a natural progression for Gary. "Being involved with the campaign was a great fit. Independent of what we do in our jobs, we all want to make a difference and being involved with CHEO in this community is important. I feel privileged to have that opportunity through Bell to be able to do that."

David Cork - Director

ScotiaMcLeod

An Ottawa resident since 1983, David and his wife Peggy have relied on CHEO to help them with many minor incidents with their three daughters. David is a long time member the CHEO Foundation Board of Directors and is thrilled to also join the BIG STEPS Campaign Taskforce Team. "I have seen many families go through times where their children have faced life-threatening issues which makes me even more thankful that we have been very fortunate with our children's health. We also know that you are never really that far away from needing CHEO in a serious way. It isn't just about being sick, kids also have accidents and it's nice to know that CHEO is just a few minutes away."

Mark deGruchy & Karen Zanet

Mark deGruchy owns a Downtown Chiropractic clinic and is the official chiropractor for the Ottawa Senators. He and his wife Karen Zanet are huge supporters of research. Their annual Angels of Hope Golf Tournament supports research into Glioblastoma, which is a type of brain cancer that has touched both Mark and Karen's lives. This research into a non-toxic approach to treating that cancer may have far reaching implications into how other cancers are treated in the future. Being on the BIG STEPS Taskforce Team is another way for them to make a difference at CHEO because as Karen says, "The foundation of community is children. The whole foundation of our future is children."

Patricia Gagne - Program Manager

Bell Canada

Patricia Gagne has seen with her own eyes the impact that CHEO can have on lives. Patricia's husband passed away from Glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer, and she strongly believes in the non-toxic approach to treating that cancer that the research team at CHEO is testing. Her grandson was also a recent CHEO emergency patient, and the quick diagnosis and treatment by the team of doctors and nurses helped avoid what could have been a very grim outcome. Patricia believes "CHEO saves the lives of patients right now and the critical research they are doing now will save lives in the future."

Max Keeping - VP News & Public Affairs

CTV Community Ambassador

A true champion for the children and youth of our region, Max Keeping continues his tireless work for CHEO as an Honourary Ambassador for the BIG STEPS Campaign. Over 30 years Max has delivered the evening news to our community, and served the families of eastern Ontario and western Quebec by sharing his passion for CHEO with his loyal audience. The Max Keeping wing at CHEO bears his name, and we are honoured that our BIG STEPS Taskforce membership does as well.

Robert Merkley - President

Merkley Supply Ltd.

Robert Merkley's relationship with CHEO started on Christmas day 1989 when his one year old daughter was admitted to the hospital. "I was just amazed at the caring -- it was just so phenomenal," says Robert of his first experience at CHEO. Over the years, Robert's involvement and commitment to CHEO has grown. From his company's annual fundraising baseball tournament to his role as a Taskforce member for the Big Steps Campaign, Robert continues to support the hospital and believes strongly that, "the key to success to any hospital is a good research program." Robert believes creating awareness for and supporting medical research is of the utmost importance. "Medicine has to be more proactive rather than reactive and research is going to change all that. That is the key."

Robert Wener - Managing Partner

KPMG LLP

Robert Wener is a Managing Partner at KPMG and has been an active member of the CHEO Foundation board for over eight years. Robert is passionate about community involvement, but more specifically organizations that are committed to children. Robert believes children are society's most vulnerable group and as a result "children need a particularly loud and strong voice to advocate for them."

It is Robert's hope that the money raised form the Big Steps Campaign "goes a long way to finding a cure and a more accurate and faster diagnosis and makes it easier to treat children and help them and their families have a great life."