CRS home >> Scotiabank Vancouver Half
NEWS RELEASE — May 18, 2006
New Centre for Hip Health at VGH to benefit from Scotiabank Half-Marathon & 5k
Pioneering research and state-of-the-art hip imaging equipment receive boost from VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation's "Your Health—Your Choice" program
Vancouver: A brand new Centre for Hip Health at Vancouver General Hospital is benefiting from this year's Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5k. The new centre takes an innovative approach to pioneer leading-edge research to improve bone and joint health. Supporting funds will come in part from the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5k on Sunday, June 25, 2006, where individuals can run or walk for the cause that means the most to them through VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation's Your Health—Your Choice program.
"Hip fractures are deadly, costly and all too common. Proceeds from this year's Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5k will highlight Vancouver General Hospital as a world leader in research that aims to reduce bone and joint problems," says Dr. Heather McKay, deputy director of VGH's Centre for Hip Health. "We know that physical activity at every stage of life promotes bone health and may well be our best defense against musculoskeletal diseases as we age. With some of the world's best and brightest researchers and state-of-the-art medical equipment, VGH will lead the way by investigating the cause of these devastating conditions and intervening to promote bone and joint health across the lifespan."
Musculoskeletal diseases—diseases of the bones and joints—are the number one health care problem in B.C., in terms of direct and indirect costs. About 85 per cent of Canadians aged 75 and older have osteoarthritis, a painful joint disease that severely limits mobility and independence and can usually only be treated with surgery. Ranking third in terms of cost are the health complications related to injuries—a large portion of which are attributable to falls among the elderly. In Canada, one out of three seniors falls each year. There are 25,000 hip fractures annually, and projections show that if nothing is done, there will be 465,000 hip fractures annually by 2041. Hip fractures result in death in 20 per cent of cases and disability in 50 per cent of those who survive.
"We're grateful to the participants in this year's event," says Ron Dumouchelle, President and CEO, VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. "Contributions from the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5k help the health care professionals at our hospitals discover groundbreaking treatments today for patients from across B.C."
Participants in the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5k can raise funds to support VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation's Your Health—Your Choice Program, which includes the in it for life Fund, the Dr. Patty Clugston Chair in Breast Reconstruction Surgery, Burn and Wound Healing Research, Cardiac Care and the VGH Diabetes Centre. For a complete list of fundraising choices visit www.canadarunningseries.com/svhm. For information on VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation please visit www.supportvgh.ca or call (604) 875-4676.
The Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5k is part of the prestigious Canada Running Series and is also part of the Vancouver Sun Run Series. For more information on how to register for the event, please visit www.canadarunningseries.com/svhm.
VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation is a registered charity that raises funding for the latest, most sophisticated medical equipment, world-class research and improvements to patient care for Vancouver General Hospital, UBC Hospital, GF Strong Rehab Centre and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute. For more than 25 years, the Foundation and its donors have been a bridge between the essential health care governments provide and the most advanced health care possible.
- 30 -
For more information contact:
Maureen Broadfoot, Senior Development Officer, Annual Fund, VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation
(604) 875-5350 maureen.broadfoot@vch.ca
Clifton Cunningham, Race Director, Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5K
(778) 786-3116 clifton@canadarunningseries.com
Jennifer Baxter, Scotiabank (604) 668-2008 jennifer.baxter@scotiabank.com