Snow may be falling in Toronto, but already Women In Insurance Cancer Crusade (WICC) is gearing up to support the Canadian Cancer Society's (CCS) Relay For Life events across Ontario this summer.
The insurance industry-hosted Relay For Life takes place in Toronto on Friday, June 17.
"Our Relay For Life is a great event that brings insurance colleagues and their friends and families together in a true team effort to raise money for cancer research," said Relay For Life Co-Chair Shari Dodsworth, Senior Vice President, Sales & Distribution at
Northbridge Insurance. "Funding research is essential to progress, and it's our way of helping to eliminate cancer from our vocabulary."
The WICC, which marks its 20
th anniversary this year has been a supporter of Relay For Life, the Canadian Cancer Society's signature fundraiser walk , for the last seven years and continues to be a corporate contributor through sponsorship and fundraising.
In 2015, the Relay engaged 71 teams raising $243,000 in donations and $171,000 in corporate sponsor support, for a total of $414,000. One hundred per cent of funds raised goes directly to cancer research.
"We're so proud of how the Relay event and the money it raises continue to grow," said Paul Martin, Relay For Life Past Co-Chair and President and COO of RRJ Insurance Group. "The insurance industry has really stepped up to the challenge and backs its commitment to support the health of people in their local communities."
National Relay sponsorship dollars raised by
Economical Insurance have already topped $100,000 this year.
"At Economical, how we operate reflects our values and who we are as a company," said Tom Reikman, Economical's Senior Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer. "Many of us have experienced cancer in some way, and it's important for Economical to help fund cancer research, both as an employer and insurance provider."
