Hike for Health: WRHN Foundation event offers patients chance to share gratitude with team members who changed their lives
News Release
Kitchener-Waterloo, Ont. | Wed. Sept. 10
Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN) Foundation’s annual Hike for Health fundraiser returns this month under a new format that welcomes patients and team members from all of the Hospital’s care areas.
Previously known as “Hike for Heart,” the event brings together patients and their loved ones for a casual walk alongside Hospital team members who changed their lives – while raising money to support patient care at WRHN, the newly merged Hospital in Kitchener-Waterloo.
The Sun. Sept. 21 event at Laurel Creek Conservation Area represents both a reunion and celebration of health, recovery and community, with funds raised supporting all areas of care across WRHN’s three sites – Midtown, Queen’s Blvd., and Chicopee – as directed by each participant.
Previous Hike for Health events have collectively raised more than $900,000, and this year, the $1 million milestone is within reach.
“Hike has always been a meaningful and touching event for our community, and we want more of our patients and WRHN team members to feel the love and excitement that comes with this celebratory event,” says Nico Giorgio, Events Manager at WRHN Foundation. “As the first expanded Hike for Health under WRHN Foundation, we’re excited to see how powerful this event can become.
“We invite all community members to come out and experience it and help make every step count for local healthcare.”
Money raised from Hike for Health events helps patients like Peter Tedesco, a 52-year-old from Guelph who had open heart surgery at the Regional Cardiac Care Centre at WRHN @ Queen’s Blvd., in July.
Tedesco had spent almost a year training to climb Everest Base Camp (nearly 18,000 feet up) when a CT scan revealed an enlarged aorta – dangerously close to rupturing.
“The doctor told me: ‘This type of condition is usually only discovered in an autopsy,” Peter says. “Without surgery, the outcome could be fatal. Basically, he said: ‘you’re not going anywhere.’”
With his adventure-of-a-lifetime cancelled, Tedesco underwent a successful procedure at WRHN to repair the enlarged aorta. Within six weeks, he was back to work, carefully rebuilding his stamina and setting his sights on new peaks.
Everest Base Camp is still in his future — but first, he’ll conquer something closer to home: WRHN Foundation’s Hike for Health. Tedesco is participating in Hike this year as a token of his gratitude for the care he received at WRHN.
“They didn’t just treat me, they took the time to connect with me,” he says. “It made a huge difference.”
About Hike for Health
- Participants can register online and create fundraising teams.
- The event provides a fun family atmosphere with children' s activities and live music.
- $25 registration fee includes a Hike for Health t-shirt, healthy boxed lunch, and goody bag.
Every donation helps secure new and replacement medical equipment not funded by the Ministry of Health – from cardiac catheterization equipment to chemotherapy chairs in WRHN’s Cancer Centre, and everything in between.
WRHN, the newly merged hospital in Kitchener-Waterloo, has seven regional programs, including cardiac, cancer, chest, renal, eye care, and more, that serve an area of nearly 1.5 million Ontario residents – 10 per cent of the provincial population.
WRHN sees roughly 700,000 patients each year and has more than 7,000 team members across its three sites.
WRHN Foundation represents the amalgamation of the two former hospital foundations in KW (Grand River and St. Mary’s hospital foundations). WRHN Foundation hosts a number of events throughout the year to raise funds for much-needed medical equipment and programs that benefit our rapidly growing community.
Images available for download. Please credit: Waterloo Regional Health Network Foundation
WRHN Foundation media contact:
Melissa Couto
Communications Specialist
About Waterloo Regional Health Network Foundation
Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN) Foundation raises funds to support life-saving care at Waterloo Regional Health Network. WRHN Foundation works in partnership with our community to help elevate the healthcare experience of WRHN patients and staff.
Thanks to generous support from donors, we raise funds for vital equipment, programs and resources at WRHN that are not covered by the Ontario Ministry of Health.
Learn more at WRHNF.ca
About Waterloo Regional Health Network
Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN, pronounced wren) represents the merger of two Hospitals into a single, integrated healthcare organization. Built on over 90 years of partnership, WRHN is home to seven regional programs and comprehensive healthcare services to meet the current and emerging needs in Waterloo-Wellington and beyond. WRHN is redefining the healthcare experience through collaboration and innovation, addressing barriers to access, advancing care delivery, and setting new standards in compassionate, empowered, community-driven healthcare. At WRHN, every patient is at the centre of everything we do as we strive to improve lives, inspire healing, and build healthier, stronger communities.
Learn more at wrhn.ca
