TORONTO, May 21, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Make-A-Wish® Rope for Hope, the national signature fundraising event for Make-A-Wish® Canada, is back for another thrilling and adrenaline-fuelled summer, in support of children with critical illnesses.
“Wish children often face lengthy hospital stays, multiple surgeries and strict medication schedules, but continue to display their remarkable strength, courage and bravery each day,” says Jennifer Klotz-Ritter, president & CEO, Make-A-Wish Canada. “Rope for Hope encourages participants to find their brave and rappel to help create life-changing wishes for these children. When a wish is granted, a child replaces fear with confidence, sadness with joy and anxiety with hope – a powerful combination that may lead to better health outcomes.”
Rope for Hope participants are required to raise a minimum of $1,500 to help grant wishes for local children, in exchange for the opportunity to rappel down a city skyscraper. Rope for Hope events are scheduled to take place in 12 Canadian cities in 2019, starting this week. Events are open to the general public. Spaces are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Brian Veloso’s son, Owen, received his wish to be a firefighter in 2012. For the eighth consecutive year, Brian will rappel at Rope for Hope Toronto to help raise money for Make-A-Wish®. He has personally raised more than $25,000 since the event first launched in 2012. Brian explains why he participates each year with a video message.
2019 National Fundraising Contest
All Rope for Hope registered participants who raise $3,000 or more by Sept. 30, 2019 will be automatically entered in a draw to win an incredible getaway to Costa Rica, courtesy of Monograms and WestJet valued at $6,000! Click here for more information.
There are a variety of ways to participate in Make-A-Wish Rope for Hope: as an individual, on a team, or by sponsoring a participant. For more information and to register for an event in a city near you, visit ropeforhope.ca.
Special thanks to National Partners and Sponsors: WestJet Cares for Kids, Sony Canada Charitable Foundation, Captivate, Pita Pit Canada, Globus family of brands (Monograms), and local supporters.
New This Year
Rope for Hope participants across Canada will have the chance to use Fotaflo – a social marketing tool that captures photos for event participants and delivers them in real time so friends and family can experience the excitement of the event instantly via social media. Fotaflo is sponsored by Sony Canada Charitable Foundation.
About Make-A-Wish Canada
Make-A-Wish creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. We are on a quest to bring every eligible child's wish to life, because a wish is an integral part of a child's treatment journey. Research shows children who have wishes granted can build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight a critical illness. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Make-A-Wish is the world’s leading children’s wish-granting organization, serving children in every community in Canada, and in more than 50 countries worldwide. Together, generous donors, supporters, staff and more than 1,100 volunteers across the country grant more than one wish per day, on average. Since 1983, Make-A-Wish Canada has granted more than 8,000 wishes across the country; 655 last year alone. For more information about Make-A-Wish Canada, visit makeawish.ca.
Media Contact:
Deborah Waines-Bauer
Manager, Marketing & Communications
Make-A-Wish Canada
Tel: 1-888-822-9474 ext. 6111
deborah.wainesbauer@makeawish.ca
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bfb1f560-f1c4-475c-ab9b-4ef097ae958a