Record-Setting Spring Sprint
Thanks to 4,500 Participants

A happy Sprint participant from Hamilton's inaugural event

Spring Sprint is a national program of events across Canada that brings families and friends together to help reach even more people affected by a brain tumour. Thank you to everyone who supported and participated in the 22 Spring Sprint events held in eight provinces. Together, more than 4,500 people helped raise over $1.4 million. These funds are used to provide brain tumour information, support and education, to fund research, as well as to create awareness about this disease.

More than for simply fundraising, Spring Sprints are held for patients and their families to celebrate life and to remember those who have lost their battle with a brain tumour. Over 250 brain tumour survivors participated in this year’s events and were easily recognizable in their special blue shirts. In the instance of Richard Motyka, a brain tumour survivor and the largest online fundraiser in 2009, he participates to bring hope to other survivors. His goal is for research to be funded that will find a cure for brain tumours allowing fewer people in the future to have to undergo a similar journey to his.

"Together we are making a difference for those families and friends challenged with a brain tumour," Motyka explains. "We have dozens of family and friends who have been very generous and donate every year. Winning the prize as the largest online donor shows the commitment we have had to Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada."

Spring Sprints are made possible through the involvement of over 400 volunteers and by Spring Sprint’s national sponsors: Deloitte, our National Platinum Sponsor, one of the world’s largest professional services and auditing companies; IMRIS an imaging company in Winnipeg that makes a special MRI system for operating rooms and WestJet, who provides air transportation.

Additionally, we are deeply appreciative of the support we receive from all of our local sponsors. The numerous national and local businesses which donate time, money, food, music, auction or raffle items to the cause all make an incredible difference!

"We could not accomplish so much for so many without the support of our brain tumour community," declares Susan Marshall, Executive Director of Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada. "We see the results of our research and quality of life projects in the faces of the people at our Spring Sprint. These events have become a tangible expression of our sense of family that helps to bring hope along with our other programs and services such as support groups and educational conferences."

Planning has already begun for the 2010 Spring Sprint program. If you are interested in finding out how you can become more involved, please contact our National Event Manager, Sharon Whiteside at swhiteside@braintumour.ca or 1-800-265-5106 x 229 for more information. Look for updates at www.springsprint.ca.