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CP teams up again with CFL to support cardiac research in Winnipeg Hospital

TRANSCONTINENTAL railway in Canada and the United States, Canadian Pacific (CP) is once again teaming up with the Canadian Football League (CFL) to deliver CP Touchdowns for Heart during the 103rd Grey Cup Playoffs.

This year, the programme is supporting the development of a heart health screening protocol, specifically for women, at St-Boniface Hospital's Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences in Winnipeg.

For every home team touchdown made during rounds one and two of the playoffs, CP contributed CAD5,000 (US$3,735) to St-Boniface Hospital for a total of CAD70,000.

Another CAD31,750 was raised for cardiac research during the November 13 St-Boniface Hospital Radiothon of Hope and Healing.

CP Touchdowns for Heart will conclude at the 103rd Grey Cup on November 29 in Winnipeg, where every touchdown scored by Ottawa REDBLACKS and Edmonton Eskimos will generate CAD10,000 for women's heart health at the St-Boniface Hospital, home to one of North America's premier cardiovascular research teams, CP said in a statement.

During last year's Grey Cup run, the CP Touchdowns for Heart campaign raised CAD120,000 to support the cardiac surgery team at BC's Royal Columbian Hospital in a new blood management initiative, a one-of-a-kind programme in western Canada.

This year's fundraising for St-Boniface Hospital will support another first as the hospital's cardiac researchers embark on the first cardiac screening clinical trial for women in Manitoba.

"Heart disease is the number one killer of women. Most women are unaware of their risk partly because women's symptoms are not the same as those experienced by men," said president and CEO of St-Boniface Hospital Foundation, Charles (Chuck) LaFleche.

"CP's support for the heart health screening protocol will help St-Boniface Hospital find new ways of identifying women at risk, before they have a heart attack or stroke. CP will be making a significant difference in women's heart health advances. Everyone at St-Boniface Hospital will be cheering for a high scoring Grey Cup! We are very thankful for the support."