May 12, 2008
Measuring 8 feet wide and 30 feet long, weighing about 2200 lbs, equipped with 30 seats, and with the strength to carry 10,000 lbs, the SaskEnergy Heart & Stroke Big Bike is built for a meaningful challenge. During the next months, the bike will travel to more than 40 Saskatchewan communities on a ride to save lives. The official kick-off of the Big Bike tour began today in Saskatoon.
Each year, individuals and teams from across the province ride the Big Bike to raise funds for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. The funds support root-cause research for heart disease and stroke, as well as crucial education programs to help Canadians learn how to protect their health. SaskEnergy is the major corporate supporter of this initiative.
“SaskEnergy believes in supporting initiatives that create strong and healthy communities,” said Justice Minister Don Morgan, who is MLA for Saskatoon Southeast, on behalf of Ken Cheveldayoff, Minister of Crown Corporations. “This annual event is such a positive and upbeat way to raise awareness and much-needed funds for a disease that has impacted so many people throughout our province and our country.”
This year’s Big Bike tour began at Sobeys College Park in Saskatoon. The day featured a media conference with Big Bike special guests, including Mike McCullough, Anton Mckenzie and Marcus Adams of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, and the Saskatoon Roller Derby Team. Other events include a Media Bike Ride — with McCullough as the Honourary Big Bike Captain — and photograph opportunities with Roughrider players. The day also featured a barbecue and other Big Bike rides.
“Everyone who supports the Big Bike is helping to fund live-saving research,”
says Lucy Buller, Chief Executive Officer of the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
“The Foundation is extremely grateful to every person who rides, everyone who
makes a pledge, and to our generous provincial sponsor SaskEnergy. They are all
helping to reduce the devastating impact of Canada’s leading cause of death and
disability.”
"Sobeys is proud that Compliments Balance, its line of better-for-you foods, has
signed on to be the healthy eating partner for the 2008 H&S Big Bike campaign.
This is a natural fit as every Compliments Balance product carries the trusted
symbol of the Heart and Stroke Foundation's Health Check™ program, making it
easy to make healthy food choices, without sacrificing on taste," said Mauer
Chiarello, Sobey’s Director, Corporate Brands Marketing.
Twenty-three Saskatchewan people suffer a stroke or heart attack every day. One
in three will not survive. Continued support of research is the key to finding
earlier ways to diagnose and better ways to treat heart disease and stroke.
Call the Heart and Stroke Foundation toll-free at 1-866-334-6333 or visit www.heartandstroke.ca/bigbike to find out how easy it is to join the Big Bike
fun.
For further information, please contact:
Pat Rediger
Media Relations Coordinator,
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan
redigerp@hsf.sk.ca
1-306-522-9326
Dave Burdeniuk
Communications Manager
SaskEnergy
dburdeniuk@saskenergy.com
1-306-777-9842