Media Advisory: More Than 2,800 Participants & 40 Dogs Walk to Support SickKids

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Sept. 23, 2015) - This Saturday, September 26, join more than 2,800 participants, volunteers, sponsors - and this year, more than 40 dogs - for the third annual Canaccord Genuity Great Camp Adventure Walk presented by Sport Chek to benefit SickKids. The only event of its kind in Canada, the Great Camp Adventure Walk will start and end at Fort York and take participants to various activity-filled stops (campsites) throughout the 20-kilometre route.

Corporate teams, hospital staff, families, individuals and their dogs will journey through the streets of downtown Toronto, participating in seven campsites designed to bring a camp experience to the city.

New this year is a 'Super Campsite' located at Fred Hamilton Park where participants will be challenged and entertained in a 'choose-your-own-adventure' style with three distinct campsites at the 12.5, 15 and 17.5 km marks of the route. Participants can sing and dance at the Rising Star station, test their strength at a javelin toss or get lost in a rope maze.

Each participant will be celebrated as they cross the finish line, regardless of the distance they complete. As a thank you for participating, photos from the event will be displayed on the Gardiner Expressway billboards throughout the day.

What:	The Canaccord Genuity Great Camp Adventure Walk
Who:	More than 2,800 participants, including: SickKids patient families, hospital staff, members of the community and their family dogs, and corporate teams
	Dr. Mike Apkon, President and CEO, The Hospital for Sick Children
	Ted Garrard, President and CEO, SickKids Foundation
	Dan Daviau, President and CEO, Canaccord Genuity (Canada)
	Erika DeHaas, Associate Vice President, FGL Sports
	Canadian summer Olympians, Rosie MacLennan, Jason Burnett (trampoline) Canadian Paralympian, Austin Hinchey (sitting volleyball)
Where:	Walk starts and ends at Fort York - 100 Garrison Blvd., Toronto
	(Bathurst and Fort York Blvd.)
	Opening Ceremony takes place on Main Stage
When:	Saturday, September 26, 2015
	8:10 a.m. - Furry group photo with more than 40 participating dogs
	8:20 a.m. - Group Stretch at Fort York
	8:30 a.m. - Opening & Flag Raising Ceremonies
	9:00 a.m. - Participants break through the START sign and begin route

New this year:

• ZORBs®: inflatable, human-sized balls to roll in - located at the Main Camp site with other activities like hover ball, archery and giant board games
• 'Super Campsite' - located at Fred Hamilton Park - featuring three different camp-themed activities - Rising Star (DJ, MC and dancers), Feel Good (javelin toss), Loopity Loop (rope maze)
• Finishers' experience - each participant will be celebrated when they arrive back at Fort York with cheers and photos of them on the stage after crossing the finish line

Key Interview & Photo Opportunities:

• Participants with a SickKids connection will be pre-identified and available during the event for interviews and photos. Everyone participating in the Flag Raising ceremony has a SickKids story.

At Main Camp - Fort York:

• 8:10 a.m. - Furry group photo on the Main Stage with family dogs; more than 40 dogs are registered to attend

• 8:20 a.m. - 9 a.m. - Group Stretch followed by a Flag Raising Ceremony and walk-out at the START line with more than 2,800 participants, dogs, hospital staff and volunteers

• 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. - Activities including the Canaccord Genuity Fun Zone with exotic animals, pony rides, face painting and a climbing wall; a PetSmart PupStop (one of eight on the route with treats and water for participating dogs)

Along the route: (The full route map is available upon request)

• 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Meet SickKids therapeutic clown, Ranger Ray, who will be participating in the walk on behalf of patients who aren't well enough to attend and are currently in hospital
  • 1:30 - 2 p.m.: Photo/video opportunity with Ranger Ray using Samsung devices to connect with patients who are in hospital and engaging with them in the Camp experience
  • Note: Ranger Ray will be in clown-character. He comes from the forest and can sing camp songs on his ukulele

• 9:30 to 11 a.m. - First campsite, Camp Messy Hands, at Alexandra Park (Bathurst and Carr streets), at 2.5 km mark (activity: participants stamping painted hands, and paws, on large block letters spelling SickKids)

At The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) - indoors and out:

• 10 a.m. to noon - Second campsite, Sport Chek's Camp Spirit of Sport, at The Hospital for Sick Children (555 University Ave., along Elm Street), at 5 km mark: meet-and-greet stations and sport-themed activities with Canadian summer Olympians, Rosie MacLennan and Jason Burnett, Canadian Paralympian, Austin Hinchey

• 1 - 1:30 p.m. - Media are invited to a special indoor campsite inside The Hospital for Sick Children to meet with patients who are currently admitted to the hospital.

Note: Please meet SickKids Foundation media relations staff at the Information Desk in the hospital Atrium

Engage with us on social media:

Twitter:

@walkforsickkids

Facebook:

/WalkforSickKids

Instagram:

@WalkforSickKids