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PCC Announces Charitable Partnerships |
Peterborough, ON – The Peterborough Cycling Club is pleased to announce its formal association with two very important charities, The James Fund for Neuroblastoma Research and Canadian Blood Services. The club, long interested in giving back to the community in which its members live and play, has made a multi-year commitment to these charities which raise funds and awareness for research, and conduct blood drives. The club will also donate a portion of its annual membership dues to The James Fund.
“We see this as an important step in our growth as an organization”, commented club President Alan Barber. “I think cyclists are charitable people and that these initiatives have the potential to grow with the club. The club has a focus on developing youth cyclists so partnering with The James Fund, given that neuroblastoma is a children’s cancer, seemed like a natural fit. Additionally, many of our members are long-time blood donors and we want to encourage all club members to become regular blood donors. Cyclists, like other active people, are engaged in healthy lifestyles. Canadian Blood Services is a vital component of our health care system and giving blood is a simple and important contribution to helping maintain the health of people in our community.”
“All of us at The James Fund are thrilled that the Peterborough Cycling Club is willing to work with us to raise awareness and funds for the neuroblastoma cause” enthused Diana Birrell, Executive Director.
Sue Harris, Community Development Coordinator of the Peterborough clinic of the Canadian Blood Services, also shared her appreciation with the cycling club’s membership: “Thank you all for helping to promote the need for donors in Peterborough. On average, every 60 seconds, someone in Canada needs blood. Giving blood is simple – it only takes an hour – and can help save up to three lives. How much more life-affirming can you get?”
Although these partnerships are new this cycling season, the club has already donated several hundred dollars to The James Fund and recently held their second members’ blood drive of the year.
The Peterborough Cycling Club’s mission is to promote cycling in the Peterborough area, with a special emphasis on supporting youth in the sport. The Club has over 170 members and is one of the larger clubs, on a per capita basis, in Ontario. The club is not-for-profit, provides group rides six days a week, and teaches safety and proper cycling.
The James Fund for Neuroblastoma Research was established by the family of Peterborough’s James Birrell to generate funds and knowledge leading to new therapies for the treatment of patients with neuroblastoma. James died of the disease in 2001 at the age of 8. Fuelled in large part by loyal supporters in Peterborough, The James Fund has rapidly grown to be Canada’s leading neuroblastoma research initiative and its benefactor, the James Birrell Research Laboratories at The Hospital for Sick Children, is growing its reputation as one of the best hope kids with neuroblastoma have anywhere in the world. To date, seventeen research projects have been funded, twenty-five papers published, a drug-testing unit has been established, eight international collaborations are underway, and a new clinical trial is bringing new hope to the parents of children suffering from this terrible childhood cancer. Hollywood actor Tom Hanks is its Honourary Patron.
Canadian Blood Services is a not-for-profit, charitable organization whose sole mission is to manage the blood and blood products supply for Canadians.
To this end, Canadian Blood Services:
• Collects approximately 850,000 units of blood annually and processes it into the components and products that are administered to thousands of patients each year.
• Manages the OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network whose mission is to secure, in an expeditious way, donors for Canadian bone marrow transplant patients and for patients abroad.
• Screens every donor and tests each unit of blood or blood product collected for a variety of transmissible diseases.
• Ensures that Canadian transfusion medicine research and development remains at the cutting edge.
Canadian Blood Services is committed to blood safety. In addition to the effective screening and testing processes, this pursuit of safety is reflected in every branch of its organizational structure and in each management and operational decision that is made.
To book an appointment or find out more: www.blood.ca, 1-888-2DONATE |
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Letter to the PCC Members from The James Fund |
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To the members of Peterborough Cycling Club
All of us at The James Fund are thrilled that the Peterborough Cycling Club is willing to work with us to raise awareness and funds for the neuroblastoma cause.
As you likely know, The James Fund was born and raised in Peterborough by my brother and his wife, Syd and Pam Birrell, to save their son James from a deadly childhood cancer of the central nervous system called neuroblastoma (nb). But you may not know that, since James’ death in 2001, The James Fund has grown to be the largest neuroblastoma initiative in Canada. It has also become the umbrella organization for neuroblastoma families who are working with us to raise funds and awareness to save their own child.
Researchers at the James Birrell Laboratories (located in the renowned MaRS Building in Toronto) are managing research projects in 8 countries, and have taken the top neuroblastoma research award in the world for discovering the stem cell of neuroblastoma. We are currently sequencing the DNA of that stem cell at the Genome Centre in BC. And we also have a new clinical trial at SickKids, which is showing good results in children who are on a new treatment which our scientists have developed. Hope is at all all-time high.
We have raised $4.0 Million from our donors, and another $4.5 Million in matching funds from major granting agencies which don’t normally fund nb research but have partnered with us based on our previous successes. The Terry Fox Foundation is one such organization.
The amazing part of all of this is that the Peterborough community is still the backbone of our fundraising. We are eternally grateful to this community which keeps rallying for our cause. And we are grateful to PCC for jumping on our train to help families who are facing insurmountable odds.
We are about to launch some great fundraising programs, which we would love to have your help on. We also look forward to working with PCC members to help you achieve your goals of becoming a recognized part of Peterborough’s philanthropic community by hosting your own events. There’s a lot we can achieve together.
We are truly grateful for your help and look forward to meeting you in person... soon!
Diana
Diana Birrell
Executive Director The James Fund |
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The PCC has been working towards creating a closed loop of roadway for racing and training at Nicholl's Oval. The project would involve removing existing speedbumps. The PCC Board of Directors would like your feedback on the project. We will be conducting a vote over the next two weeks. Please watch your email for your opportunity to vote.
One of the PCC's goals is to promote and support youth cycling. The club was formed by racers wanting to race. The proposed Nicholl's Oval project supports both youth and racing.
Nicholl's Oval is located at the southwest corner of Armour and Parkhill Roads, and just east of the Rotary Trail. Historically, it has been used for cycling. There are other local clubs and groups that may benefit from the project, and who may, in years to come, be partners in the further development of recreational opportunities at Nicholl’s Oval.
Currently the Peterborough Pagans Rugby Club is a heavy user of the field within the Oval. We have met with the rugby club and decided that for safety reasons only one of the two activities can take place at any given time. There is also a nearby Picnic Pavilion that is used in summer for special events e.g. family picnics, walkathons etc. Given the many other users of Nicholl's Oval and the Pavilion, the availability of the Oval to the PCC will be somewhat limited. If the project goes through, the Oval would be available for use (provided we book it through the City): in April and May; on most Sunday mornings during the summer until 10am; weekday mornings before 8am; and during daytime in July and August (e.g. for Kids’ day camp).
At the 2009 PCC AGM the membership approved seeking a Trillium Grant to fund the Nicholl's Oval project. After some research, we learned that the PCC is not eligible for a Trillium Grant due to the amount of unrestricted reserve funds we have. We have enough money to fund the project ourselves. Our bank account currently has in excess of $21,000. This expenditure will not hinder our ability to fund current operating expenses or youth initiatives, nor should it require an increase in future fees.
The Board of Directors for the PCC thinks this is a great opportunity to upgrade an existing City park to meet the growing needs of the PCC and many other recreational users. We are recommending the membership support this project, but because it is a significant outlay of your money, we want to hear from you.
An email will be sent to you asking yes or no as to whether you support the proposed project. Please reply to that email.
In order for there to be a binding result, the Board has decided that we need to have a vote from at least 20% of the membership.
Thank you for voting! |
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