- New fundraising goal will ensure Candlelighters Ottawa can
support 100% of children and teenagers affected by cancer in the
region
OTTAWA, Feb. 9, 2016 /CNW/ - Nokia today announced
that its Ottawa-based campus and
the Coast to Coast Against Cancer Foundation have set a new
five-year fundraising goal of CAD 1
million for Candlelighters - a grassroots charity that
supports young cancer patients and their families in the
Ottawa area. The company and
foundation plan to reach this goal through a series of fundraisers
including the annual Inside Ride cycling challenge.
Families of children with cancer face overwhelming challenges
which affect their lives forever. To help them cope, Candlelighters
provides family, financial and educational support through
programs such as The CyberKids Program, Financial Support and a
Bereavement Support Group. Each program addresses the unique needs
of young cancer patients and provides families with real, tangible
services which have a positive impact in their lives.
"Childhood cancer is a devastating disease which affects one in
330 children. In the Ottawa area
approximately 65 kids will be diagnosed this year. Over 250 newly
diagnosed children have directly benefitted from the tremendous
support Candlelighters has received from Nokia Ottawa since 2012.
This new partnership will profoundly impact our charity and will
ensure we can support 100% of children and teenagers affected with
childhood cancer in the national capital region," said Jocelyn Lamont, executive director for
Candlelighters Ottawa.
Nokia Ottawa is also announcing this year's participants for its
next Inside Ride cycling challenge which, in combination with other
corporate fundraising efforts, has raised more than $368,000 over the last eight years for childhood
cancer charities. Among this year's confirmed participants are
several companies, government and professional sports organizations
including the Ottawa Senators,
Ottawa Redblacks and the Ottawa
Police. This year, Nokia Ottawa and Coast to Coast are hoping to
attract 100 teams for the event, which will take place in the
company's parking lot under a large tent on May 11, 2016.
"Nokia's intention is to significantly grow this event by
inviting Ottawa area businesses
and organizations who share the company's passion for making a
difference in the community. The event is fun, fast-paced and
inspiring, especially when Candlelighters' beneficiaries from
previous years speak about their experiences," said Tom Brewer
Inside Ride Event Co-coordinator, Nokia.
The overall campaign will kick off on April 15, 2016, and will involve a series of
fundraising events including the cycling challenge, antique car
show and ball hockey tournament. Historically, volunteers from the
company have driven all initiatives, while strong employee
participation has helped make each event a huge success. Every
dollar raised from their fundraising efforts has gone towards
Candlelighters.
"Nokia is proud to continue Alcatel-Lucent's rich heritage of
being a solid corporate citizen in the Ottawa region with several ambitious programs
included in this new five-year fundraising goal. Each of our
fundraising campaigns is an extraordinary campus-wide experience
showing the true spirit of giving back to our
community. Everyone who participates gives something, and that
something makes a difference in the life of a child battling cancer
in the Ottawa area," said
Andy Thompson, VP ION Procurement,
Nokia.
Key Facts
- Nokia Ottawa in partnership with Coast to Coast Against
Foundation hope to raise CAD 1
million over the next five years for Candlelighters
- Reaching this goal will allow Candlelighters to profoundly
impact children and their families battling cancer
- Some of the programs offered by Candlelighters include The
CyberKids Program, Hospital Support, Parking Program, Financial
Support and a Bereavement Support Group.
- The largest fundraiser, The Inside Ride Ottawa, takes place on
May 11, 2016. It is presented by
Nokia, produced by the Coast to Coast Against Cancer Foundation and
has confirmed participation from several companies, professional
sports and government organizations including the Ottawa Senators, Ottawa Redblacks, and
Ottawa Police
- Over the past eight years, Nokia's subsidiary Alcatel-Lucent
has raised over $365,000, with 100%
of donations going directly to those affected by this terrible
disease.
- 2015 was the company's biggest campaign to date, raising
CAD 80,000. Every dollar raised goes
directly to Candlelighters Ottawa, who are supporting over 300
families.
About Nokia
Nokia is a global leader in the
technologies that connect people and things. Powered by the
innovation of Bell Labs and Nokia
Technologies, the company is at the forefront of creating and
licensing the technologies that are increasingly at the heart of
our connected lives.
With state-of-the-art software, hardware and services for any
type of network, Nokia is uniquely positioned to help communication
service providers, governments, and large enterprises deliver on
the promise of 5G, the Cloud and the Internet of Things.
http://nokia.com
SOURCE Nokia