New Westminster, B.C. – {December 1, 2014} – A high scoring Canadian Football League (CFL) postseason has added up to a sizeable donation for Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation thanks to Canadian Pacific (CP).
CP, through its community investment program CP Has Heart, will make a total contribution of $120,000 to cardiac care at Royal Columbian. CP pledged $5,000 for every home team touchdown during the first two CFL playoff rounds and an extra $10,000 per touchdown by either team during the Grey Cup game in Vancouver.
“As B.C.’s busiest cardiac care centre, Royal Columbian serves the largest health authority and the fastest growing region in the province,” notes Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation President and CEO Jeff Norris. “We are incredibly grateful to CP for helping us introduce new blood management initiatives as a first in Western Canada”.
“Royal Columbian’s cardiac team saves lives every day,” says Mark Wallace, CP’s Vice-President Corporate Affairs. “CP is proud to recognize the hospital’s outstanding work as part of our commitment to improve heart health across North America.”
CP’s gift will support blood management initiatives by Royal Columbian’s cardiac surgery team. The hospital is currently exploring ways of lessening or even avoiding the need for blood transfusions in people who undergo open heart surgery. Royal Columbian performs more than 900 open heart surgeries a year.
Among the hospital’s former patients is CFL Hall of Fame Inductee Wally Buono, who underwent triple cardiac bypass surgery ten years ago. “The cardiac team at Royal Columbian was there for me when I needed my open heart surgery,” says Buono. “I will never forget how caring and supportive they were to my family and me during this difficult time.”
Royal Columbian Hospital is BC’s busiest cardiac care centre, performing complex open-heart surgery as well as minimally-invasive procedures to open blocked arteries and replace failing heart valves. Royal Columbian provides 24/7 access to emergency angioplasty (to open narrowed or blocked blood vessels) and its Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit (CSICU) has a specialized team responsible for managing the recovery of more than 950 patients each year.
Centre of excellence
Royal Columbian Hospital is a Fraser Health provincial centre and regional referral hospital providing specialized care for cardiac services, trauma, neurosciences, high risk maternity and neonatal intensive care for seriously ill and injured people from across the province. Royal Columbian Hospital is also a UBC teaching hospital with a Clinical Academic Campus.
Raising Funds
Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation is an independent charitable foundation that raises millions of dollars annually to help fund priority equipment needs, facility enhancements, research, education and innovation at Royal Columbian Hospital. For more information about Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation, visit www.rchfoundation.com or contact us at 604 520 4438.
CP Has Heart
At CP we know that a railroad may serve as the arteries of a nation, but at its heart is community. That’s why through CP Has Heart, we’re committed to improving the heart health of men, women and children across North America. And along the way, we’re showing heart whenever we can. By the end of 2014, CP will have contributed $2M towards saving lives and improving the heart health of patients of all ages. Find out more on www.cpr.ca or @CPhasHeart.
About CP
Canadian Pacific (TSX:CP)(NYSE:CP) is a transcontinental railway in Canada and the United States with direct links to eight major ports, including Vancouver and Montreal, providing North American customers a competitive rail service with access to key markets in every corner of the globe. CP is growing with its customers, offering a suite of freight transportation services, logistics solutions and supply chain expertise. Visit cpr.ca to see the rail advantages of Canadian Pacific.