CALGARY, Aug. 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - Ariya Jutanugarn
topped one of the deepest fields on the LPGA tour, including dozens
of recent Olympians, to win the Canadian Pacific Women's Open
title, with local kids also winning big thanks to CP's $2 million donation to the Alberta Children's
Hospital in support of pediatric cardiac care and research.
"It was a tremendous week from start to finish and we couldn't
be prouder of Ariya and our partnership with the Alberta Children's
Hospital," said E. Hunter Harrison,
CP's CEO. "Having the tournament at Priddis Greens Golf and Country
Club, in our home city and province, is bitter sweet as it is my
last Open as CEO. I will be forever proud of the contributions we
have made as a result of our involvement with Golf Canada and the
CP Women's Open – all part of our commitment, through CP Has Heart,
to give where we live and operate."
CP's donation, one of the largest on the LPGA tour, will support
the hospital in researching the development of "liquid biopsy," a
non-invasive procedure that doctors hope will replace invasive
tissue biopsies currently used to determine if a child's
transplanted heart is being attacked by his or her immune system.
This new approach, in combination with the advanced DNA sequencing
technologies at the Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute,
can also be used to make a genetic diagnosis for congenital heart
disease before a baby is born.
"As a member of the cardiology team at the Alberta Children's
Hospital, I am thrilled with the support they have received from
the tournament," said Dr. Steven
Greenway, Pediatric Cardiologist, Alberta Children's
Hospital. "For more than 25 years, the cardiology team at the
Alberta Children's Hospital has been providing leading-edge care
for kids in our community. This incredible gift will be used to
take our research even further from the lab to the clinic as we
develop new, non-invasive tests and personalized treatments for
children with heart conditions."
The final donation total was a result of a number of fundraising
initiatives leading up to the conclusion of the golf tournament,
including Spruce Meadows Clear Rounds for Heart, Alberta Children's
Hospital Radio-thon and online donation matching.
"The CP Has Heart campaign has brought our community together in
a wonderful way. For children who rely on cardiac care and research
at the Alberta Children's Hospital, the 2016 CP Women's Open has
left a life-changing legacy in our city for years to come," said
Saifa Koonar, President and CEO, Alberta
Children's Hospital Foundation. We are extremely grateful to
CP, Golf Canada and Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club for making
this memorable event possible!"
In Canada, one in 100 babies is
born with a congenital heart disease. Every year in Alberta, that translates to 500 infants – and
their families – who find themselves embarking upon a life-altering
journey as a result. That includes CP Women's Open's Ambassador,
Alexa Castillo, and her family. The
family was referred to the Alberta Children's Hospital where
doctors told them their daughter would be born with critical aortic
stenosis, a life-threatening heart defect where the aorta in her
left ventricle does not work properly. At only eight years old,
Alexa has had multiple open heart surgeries and will need a
lifetime of care from cardiac specialists.
"It has been so humbling to see the community rally around kids
like our daughter who need help for their very special hearts,"
said Jorge Castillo, Alexa's father.
"The care at the Alberta Children's Hospital is amazing and this
wonderful gift is going to make it even better for children and
their families who will need it in the future."
To coincide with Canada 150
celebrations, next year's Canadian Pacific Women's Open will return
to the nation's capital and the Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club from
August 21 to 27, 2017. CP will
announce its charity partner at a later date.
"This week was a fantastic showcase of golf and charitable
giving – we congratulate CP, the CP Has Heart program, and everyone
involved in the tournament," said Scott
Simmons, CEO of Golf Canada. "We look forward to 2017 in
Ottawa when we celebrate
Canada's 150th with an
iconic Canadian company and the best golfers in the world."
About Canadian Pacific
Canadian Pacific (TSX:CP)(NYSE:CP) is a transcontinental railway in
Canada and the United States with direct links to eight
major ports, including Vancouver
and Montreal, providing North
American customers a competitive rail service with access to key
markets in every corner of the globe. CP is growing with its
customers, offering a suite of freight transportation services,
logistics solutions and supply chain expertise. Visit
www.cpr.ca to see the rail advantages of CP.
About CP Has Heart
At CP, we know that a railroad may serve as the arteries of a
nation, but at its heart is community. That's why, through CP Has
Heart, we've already committed more than $8
million to help improve the heart health of men, women and
children across North America. And
along the way, we're showing heart whenever we can. Find out more
on www.cpr.ca or @CPhasHeart.
About Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation
The Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation inspires our community
to invest in excellence in child health, research and family
centred care. Through the generosity of donors, the Foundation
provides funding for innovative programs, state-of-the-art
equipment, advanced medical training and internationally-recognized
pediatric research. The Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation is a
founding partner of the Alberta Children's Hospital Research
Institute, as well as the primary funder.
www.childrenshospital.ab.ca.
About the 2016 CP Women's Open
The stars of the LPGA Tour challenged for the CP Women's Open from
August 22-28, 2016 at Priddis Greens
Golf and Country Club in Priddis,
Alta. The CP Women's Open, Canada's National Women's Open Golf
Championship, is proudly sponsored by Canadian Pacific, RBC,
WestJet, Molson Canadian 67, TaylorMade adidas Golf, AutoCanada,
Corby Distilleries Ltd., Delta Calgary South, Coca-Cola and CVS
Controls Ltd. For information visit www.CPwomensopen.com.
Golf Canada – Love The Game.
Grow The Game
Golf Canada is the National Sports
Federation and governing body for golf in Canada representing close to 305,000 golfers
at more than 1,400 member clubs across the country. A proud member
of the Canadian Olympic Committee, Golf Canada's mission is to grow
participation, excellence and passion in the sport while upholding
the integrity and traditions of the game. By investing in the
growth of the sport and introducing more participants of all ages
to the game, our goal is to be relevant to and respected by all
Canadian golf enthusiasts from coast to coast. For more information
about what Golf Canada is doing to support golf in your community,
visit www.golfcanada.ca.
SOURCE Canadian Pacific