Hospital walk a great success

Plenary Health CEO Mike Marasco (seated) kicked off the 5km and 10km races by being pushed on a stretcher by (l-r) Nipissing MPP Monique Smith, Councillor Peter Chirico; Dr. Cam Hunter; NBDH CEO Mark Hurst; Vicky Sutherland and Lois Krause. Photos provided by Lindsay Smylie.

North Bay and District Hospital
News Release

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The North Bay and District Hospital’s fourth annual Walk/Run event presented by platinum sponsor Plenary Health in association with PCL and Johnson Controls, had 500 participants and 60 volunteers work together to raise $89,000 in cash and gifts-in-kind for the hospital’s greatest needs.

The Cementation ‘Streetwalkers’ team were the 2009 Community Team Challenge winners and took home the coveted ‘Silver Bed Pan’ trophy. This is the second year in a row Cementation has won the Community Team Challenge.

The Hospital Team Spirit Challenge winners were the Central Ambulance Communications Centre (CACC) ‘Ghost Whisperers’ who will now select something that represents their team to add to the internal trophy.

The event is sporting a new name—Our Hospital Walk/Run—a new website and a new look for this year. “We are really pleased we were able to offer online registrations through our new, redesigned website www.ourhospitalwalkrun.ca,” explains Vicky Sutherland, Foundation Development Officer. “Another improvement was the introduction of timed chip technology for this year’s event,” Sutherland continued.

Also new this year were the ‘Giving Thanks’ Pennants that hung at the start/finish line during the event. The pennants were available to purchase before the event, and people were encouraged to write a message of thanks or a dedication on each flag.

Our Hospital Walk/Run is a 2km – 5 km – 10 km Walk/Run event, aimed to get the community active while raising awareness about local health care needs. The money raised goes to the hospital’s Urgent Needs Fund.

Next year’s Our Hospital Walk/Run is scheduled for October 17, 2010.

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