LPGA Tour

Children’s heart health wins big at Canadian Pacific Women’s Open

London, Ont. (Golf Canada) – The Canadian Pacific Women’s Open ended today, and kids living with heart disease had something more to celebrate than just So Yeon Ryu’s big win. Canadian Pacific (CP) announced they will be making a cash donation of $1, 100,045 to the Children’s Health Foundation to support continued world class research and treatment for children’s cardiac care at Children’s Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC).

“We’re so happy that our CP has Heart program gift will positively impact the lives of children with heart disease in London and throughout Southwestern Ontario,” said Canadian Pacific CEO E. Hunter Harrison. “Through the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open we’re helping to ensure that the leading edge paediatric cardiology program at Children’s Hospital continues to advance children’s cardiac research and care for years to come.”

To celebrate this significant milestone, the paediatric cardiac program at Children’s Hospital will be renamed the Canadian Pacific Centre for Paediatric Cardiac Care. CP’s gift will be put towards expanding the program’s capabilities through the purchase of paediatric-specific stress testing equipment, which will help with research and improve the quality of life of patients as they mature into adulthood.

“On behalf of the London Health Sciences Centre, I want to thank CP for this incredibly generous – and incredibly important – donation,” said Laurie Gould, Chief Clinical Officer, London Health Sciences Centre. “Today 90% of infants born with complex heart defects reach adulthood as compared to just 20%, sixty years ago. With CP’s help, we’re looking forward to further improving that figure through innovative research into the prevention of congenital heart disease.”

A second component of CP’s gift will be put towards establishing a cardiology research fund, called the Canadian Pacific Research Fund for Paediatric Cardiac Care. The fund will support research to advance knowledge in the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of children with cardiac-related health issues.

“We are so grateful to receive this generous donation from CP through their program CP Has Heart,” said Susan Crowley, President and CEO of Children’s Health Foundation. “CP and Children’s Health Foundation clearly make excellent partners, with a mutual passion for improving the health and well-being of children and supporting their families through the delivery of exceptional care and leading edge research.”

The newly named Canadian Pacific Centre for Paediatric Cardiac Care at Children’s Hospital in London is a world-class facility with cardiologists that are on-call 24/7 for patient families to call with questions or concerns. The paediatric cardiology service sees over 3,500 patients each year – patients like nine year old Rachael Wright.

Within hours of her birth, Rachael was fighting for her life. Diagnosed with pulmonary heart dysfunction and congenital heart defects, Rachael has been under the care of the cardiology team at Children’s Hospital her entire life and today enjoys being active in gymnastics and dance.

“Twenty to thirty years ago, Rachael may not have made it,” reflects Rachael’s father Chris Wright. “It’s only thanks to the research and attentive care provided at Children’s Hospital that Rachael is alive today and is a happy and healthy little girl.”

The 2014 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open in London, Ontario is the first of three tournaments that CP will serve as the title sponsor. Every year, CP and Golf Canada will commit to a charitable component linked to the tournament as it moves to communities around the country.

“Golf Canada is thrilled to have been a part of such a big win for children’s heart health at the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open in London this year,” said Scott Simmons, CEO of Golf Canada. “Everyone has rallied around CP’s fundraising, particularly the players who embraced the Birdies for Heart challenge on the 17th Green. The end result is a memorable experience for everyone involved.”