Cancer Fundraiser Sarah Cook to Carry Olympic Torch

Montreal, December 9, 2009 – Sarah Cook will carry the Olympic Torch this Thursday, December 10th, as it makes its way through Montreal. Sarah will receive the torch at approximately 4:30 p.m. at the corner of St. Denis and Mont-Royal. This event is one of many taking place during an intensive period of fundraising for The Sarah Cook Fund, which has raised $230,000 in the past two weeks.

More than 600 people attended the 8th annual Splash & Dash, presented by Johnson and Johnson, on November 21st at the McGill University Sport Complex. The event raised $155,000 for Sarah’s Fund for Families, which provides financial support to families in need by covering the cost of meals, special transportation, lodging, and other unexpected expenses.

Kids for Kids took place on November 27th at Marché Bonsecours, and raised $75,000 from 700 partygoers aged 20 to 40 years old. The funds will help purchase vital radiation-therapy equipment and support the needs of children on "Sarah’s Floor"—the in-patient hematology/oncology division at The Montreal Children’s Hospital.

"I couldn’t be more excited to be a RBC Olympic Torch bearer on behalf of child cancer patients here in Montreal," said Sarah Cook. "Thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors, the little fund we started in 2001 has raised an incredible $4.5 million. We are more determined than ever to do what we can to help children who are battling cancer and provide support to their families."

"Sarah Cook embodies the Olympic motto, from the way that she handles the disease that continues to challenge her life and advocates for young patients to the shining example that she sets for Canadians from coast to coast," stated the Hon. Arthur T. Porter, Director General and CEO of the MUHC. "The Sarah Cook Fund is helping the MUHC acquire leading-edge equipment that will enhance our capacity to diagnose and treat some of our most vulnerable patients. With construction of The Montreal Children’s Hospital at the Glen Campus taking place in 2010, Sarah is helping us to rise Swifter, Higher and Stronger just like her."

The Sarah Cook Fund continues its fundraising this holiday season with its Buddy Blanket program. With each purchase of a cozy buddy blanket, available in toddler and adult sizes, another blanket will be donated to a patient spending the holidays at the Montreal Children’s Hospital. Also this week, Casansa is holding a sale at its 1101 Laurier boutique, where 10% of sales will be donated to the Sarah Cook Fund. For more information, call 514 843-1606.

About The Sarah Cook Fund