New visionary partnership largest in the Heart and Stroke Foundation's history
Canadian Pacific (CP) and the Heart and Stroke Foundation (Foundation) today are teaming up to save lives and improve the health of all Canadians through the funding of research excellence in Canada. The commitment of $3 million over three years towards cardiac research represents the largest partnership in the Foundation's history.
"CP's success has allowed us, through our community investment program CP Has Heart, to give back to the communities in which we operate in more significant ways than ever before," said E. Hunter Harrison, CP's Chief Executive Officer. "Our significant contribution to the Heart and Stroke Foundation is a testament to our broader commitment to increasing the heart health of all Canadians."
The CP Has Heart Cardiovascular Awards will fund cardiac research grants at hospitals and research institutes across the country, with a focus on solutions for families. The grants will be selected through the Foundation's world class peer review process, and recipients will be announced at the 2015 Canadian Cardiovascular Congress in Toronto in October.
"Research is the engine that drives the Foundation's mission to prevent disease, save lives and promote recovery," said David Sculthorpe, CEO of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. "This partnership with CP provides the largest single corporate injection ever into the Foundation's research program. We are tremendously grateful to CP for showing such visionary corporate leadership. It will help to create more survivors and make a tangible difference in the lives of Canadians."
Since the Heart and Stroke Foundation was founded more than 60 years ago, the death rate from heart disease and stroke has decreased by 75 percent – due in large part to medical advances. Yet challenges today, including an aging population and rising rates of obesity and diabetes, threaten to erode the progress that has been made; heart disease and stroke continue to take a Canadian life every seven minutes, and account for 27 percent of all deaths every year.
Canada is home to exceptional cardiac research that has made history for decades – transforming the lives of heart disease survivors in Canada and around the world. Today, access to research funding is becoming increasingly difficult, yet the need has never been greater. This commitment by CP to move research forward is a testament to the corporation's dedication to make a real difference in the lives of Canadians.
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