2009 FINAL RESULTS: Spring Sprint Raises $1.4 Million! Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada celebrates the announcement of $1,401,803.57 raised by over 4,500 participants at 22 Spring Sprint walk-a-thon events held across the country. Funds raised through annual Spring Sprint events are used to provide brain tumour support programs, to fund clinical research and the Brain Tumour Tissue Bank, and to help create awareness for 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. In the instance of Richard Motyka, a brain tumour survivor and the largest online fundraiser in 2009, he participates to bring hope to other patients through research that will find a cure for brain tumours so fewer people in the future will 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." Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada is a national charity whose mission is to reach every Canadian affected by a brain tumour through support, education, information and research. Spring Sprint events are held in eight provinces from Halifax to Victoria during April to June. Over 250 brain tumour survivors participated in the events and were easily recognizable in their special blue shirts. Additionally, the events were made possible through the involvement of over 400 volunteers and by Spring Sprint’s national sponsors: Deloitte, IMRIS and WestJet. "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 patient conferences." Share your story and help support the courage of the 55,000 people across Canada who are affected by a brain tumour. Don't forget to add us to your MySpace or Facebook page! Where: On-Line at www.springsprint.ca. Congratulations to this year's winner: RICHARD MOTYKA, Calgary, AB Brain tumour survivor and Calgary resident, Richard Motyka, has been announced as Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada’s most successful online fundraiser in its national Spring Sprint fundraising campaign for 2009. Motyka personally raised over $34,000 in online pledges on behalf of the organization which will be used for patient support programs and to fund critical research into the cause of and cure for brain tumours. Richard Motyka, an engineer and vice-president of development for a Calgary software company, was diagnosed with an anaplastic astrocytoma grade 3 brain tumour of which surgery was only able to remove half. Radiation and chemotherapy treatments have helped stabilize his condition since. Richard has been married to his wife, Karen, for 23 years and they – along with their 19-year-old twin children – have been involved with Spring Sprint since his original diagnosis. And not just as participants, but as volunteers also. The children work registration, while the parents fundraise and mark the trail the day of the event. "We enjoy setting goals and helping out as much as we can," Richard states. "Every year we have felt proud of our contribution." Motyka explains how their friends and other members of their family have been very generous: "My sister Alison and her husband Darrell Jones and their friends Howie and Michelle Crone, along with my parents and dozens of others, donate every year. Winning the prize this year shows the commitment we have to Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada. Together, we are making a difference for those families and friends challenged with a brain tumour." For his incredible achievement, Richard Motyka will receive air transportation and an all-inclusive one week vacation for two courtesy of WestJet, one of Spring Sprint’s national sponsors. Richard and Karen are planning to go to Maui. Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada is a national charity whose mission is to reach every Canadian affected by a brain tumour through support, education, information and research. Funds raised through Spring Sprint events are used to provide support programs in 22 cities, to fund clinical research and the Brain Tumour Tissue Bank, and to help create awareness for the disease of brain tumours. Since 1982, over 100 brain tumour research projects have received funds totaling in excess of $2.5 million. "We are very proud and honoured to benefit from the support of Richard and the thousands of others across the country," says Susan Marshall, Executive Director of Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada. "Our organization is solely supported by the incredible generosity of individuals, volunteers and companies who share our vision to find the cause and cure of brain tumours. We are very excited by the potential for all of the research that will be conducted as a result of these funds." Are you interested in volunteering or starting a Spring Sprint in your city to help raise funds and awareness for Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada? For more information, please contact Sharon Whiteside, Special Events Manager at 1-800-265-5106, ext. 229 or by e-mail at swhiteside@braintumour.ca.  Don't forget that we are counting the total distance walked in Spring Sprint and adding it to the International Brain Tumor Association world walk total. Each step is one step closer to imagining the cure. Why are we tracking kilometres during Spring Sprint? Click here for the answer!   We look forward to your participation again next year, and for helping to Imagine a Cure! CLICK HERE to view the photo galleries for Spring Sprint 2009. Sprint Co-ordinator Login