Over $44 Million has been distributed since 2004 to improve the lives of children and their families living with cancer

Coast to Coast Against Cancer Foundation (CTCACF) - Canada's largest national charity devoted to fighting childhood cancer - announced today the disbursement of $4.1M to a variety of childhood cancer charities across Canada, helping fund important survivorship, research and family support programs in every province.  These funds represent CTCACF's fundraising activities for 2016, with 100 percent of receipted donations disbursed directly to designated charities.

"The funds we raise are critical in supporting programs that can improve the survival rates and the quality of life for children and their families living with this terrible disease that takes more Canadian kids than all other diseases," said Jeff Rushton, Co-Founder, Passsionate Volunteer and Board Chair, CTCACF.  "I'm grateful and humbled by the hard work of our volunteers and the generosity of sponsors, whose contributions allow our Foundation to distribute 100 percent of receiptable donations directly to the worthy charities who count on us to help them deliver services, conduct research and provide treatment in support of these kids and their families."

The $4.1m was distributed to over 40 charities at the local, regional and national level in each province across Canada.  Recipient organizations include pediatric oncology hospital units for research programs, childhood cancer camping organizations who deliver support programs and camping experiences for kids & their families going through the disease, and organizations supporting the financial and other needs of patients and their families throughout the cancer journey.

1,700 children under the age of 19 are diagnosed with cancer every year and childhood cancer is the leading disease-related cause of death in Canadian children. For the 75 percent of childhood cancer patients who beat the disease, over 50 percent suffer late effects of the disease and treatment. Childhood cancers are very different from adult cancers and rarely benefit from general cancer research. At the same time, the detection and treatment of childhood cancer places unique demands on our healthcare system.

CTCACF raises funds through a series of high quality, memorable, physically challenging, national and regional events that encourage active lifestyles and engage sponsors, participants, donors and volunteers.

CTCACF Events for 2017:

Hero Ride June 3^rd-4^th

• A two-day, 250km biking expedition with a start/end point at King City and an overnight stay at The Westin Trillium House at Blue Mountain.

Bike for Tykes June 15^th

• Enjoy four exhilarating hours of spinning, relay style, on a stationary bike in the Toronto financial district.

Tour for Kids Alberta July 14^th-16^th

• Ride over 100km/day in Calgary's gorgeous Rockies, sleep one night at Camp Kindle, and see how your fundraising helps the camp in need.

Tour for Kids Atlantic July 29^th-30^th

• Two glorious days along the shores and through the wilderness of Nova Scotia. Spend the night at Camp Brigadoon, the local camp we support.

Tour for Kids Ontario August 18^th-20^th

• Ride 100-200+km/day along the Niagara Escarpment, staying overnight at Brock University.  Camp Trillium, one of our recipients, hosts lunch for all riders on the 19^th.

Ride for Karen Aug 27^th

• A one-day cycling event in Stouffville held as a tribute to the life and legacy of Karen Tobias.  Ride 100, 160 or 200km, celebrate your ride with friends at the BBQ and pasta lunch.

Sears National Kids Cancer Ride Sept 6^th-23^rd

• Join 42 National Riders when they depart White Rock, BC and cycle 7000km across the country to Halifax, Nova Scotia.  Visit hundreds of communities, meet many childhood ambassadors, spend time at the Hospital Foundations and raise funds for kids cancer research.

Knobby Tire Trek for Kids Sept 22^nd-23^rd

• A family-friendly, 3-day mountain biking adventure on pre-built trails providing all types of riding terrain. The trails are located on beautiful private property.

Tour d'Epicure Sept 30^th

• An exciting one-day cycling and epicurean adventure in the Niagara Peninsula for the connoisseur of food, wine and cycling!

Various Inside Rides throughout the year

• A team-based indoor cycling challenge and fundraising event which promotes volunteerism and encourages physical activities.  Perfect for highschools, universities, work place environments, community groups and more.

About Coast to Coast Against Cancer Foundation

As Canada's only national charity devoted to fighting childhood cancer, Coast To Coast Against Cancer ensures 100% of receiptable funds raised go toward improving the survival rate and quality of life of children and their families impacted by cancer. Funds are raised by conducting memorable events that encourage active and healthy lifestyles. From cycling rides to team-building activities, children across the country benefit from the generous support of our sponsors, participants, donors and volunteers. www.beyondkidscancer.ca

 A national ideathon competition launched by AGE-WELL and HACKING HEALTH will take place in five Canadian cities in 2017. The goal is to identify and invest in great new technologies and services to support healthy aging.

Prizes awarded at the AGE-WELL–HACKING HEALTH National Ideathon will total $75,000 in cash and in-kind services.

Local ideathons are being held in: Toronto (Feb. 3), Montreal (Mar. 3), Halifax (May 13) and Vancouver (date to follow). One winning project from each local event will be eligible for the final round at the AGE-WELL 2017 Annual Conference in Winnipeg on Oct. 17-19, 2017.

People interested in taking part can sign up here. Eligibility criteria and competition rules and regulations are posted on the competition main page.

An ideathon is a collaborative, workshop-like event where diverse stakeholders harness their collective knowledge and creativity to brainstorm innovative solutions to pressing challenges. Participants use user-centric design techniques and methodologies (such as ideation, journey mapping and prototyping), and the creation of an initial business case, to propose a novel solution.

"AGE-WELL and HACKING HEALTH share an interest in bringing people together to develop creative solutions to health-related challenges," says Dr. Alex Mihailidis, Scientific Director, AGE-WELL. "By partnering to host this competition, we will trigger more innovation and much-needed solutions to support the independence, health and quality of life of older people, and to support  their caregivers."

Luc Sirois, Managing Director and Co-Founder of HACKING HEALTH, a global initiative, says the partnership and competition will help to bring together tech and medical communities and "catalyze the innovation spirit."

Generous sponsors of the national competition are: Bereskin & Parr, the Impact Centre, and Aging2.0 Toronto.

About AGE-WELL

AGE-WELL NCE Inc. (http://www.agewell-nce.ca/, @AGEWELL_NCE) is a pan-Canadian network of industry, non-profit organizations, government, care providers, end users, and academic partners working to drive innovation and create technologies and services that benefit older adults and caregivers. Its vision is to harness and build upon the potential of emerging and advanced technologies in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), e-health, information communication technologies (ICTs), and mobile technologies to stimulate technological, social, and policy innovation. AGE-WELL was launched in 2015 through the federally funded Networks of Centres of Excellence program.

About HACKING HEALTH 

HACKING HEALTH (http://hackinghealth.ca, @hackinghealthca) is a Canadian-based international non-for-profit organization. With over 40 cities across 5 continents, HACKING HEALTH's goal is to promote more innovation in healthcare through collaboration by putting healthcare professionals and patients at the centre of the innovation process, allowing participants to build realistic, human-centric solutions to front-line healthcare problems. HACKING HEALTH partners with renowned organizations and institutions such as AGE-WELL to develop a worldwide patient centered movement.

Dexcom Inc., the leader in Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM), has expanded with Canadian headquarters

Dexcom, Inc. (NASDAQ: DXCM) announced today that it is expanding its global presence with a new Canadian headquarters in Burnaby, British Columbia. The move aims to make it easier for more Canadians to get started with CGM.

The launch of Dexcom (Canada) Inc. means that Canadians living with diabetes can expect enhanced customer experience and support, and the ability to purchase CGM systems directly at Dexcom.com/Canada. This expansion reflects Dexcom's mission and commitment to make it easier for Canadians living with diabetes to experience the benefits of CGM for diabetes management. Unlike blood glucose testing which gives a number for a single point in time, CGM shows where glucose is, where it's going, and how fast it's getting there – so patients can take quick action to avoid dangerous glucose events or increase time spent in range.

"Dexcom is committed to transforming diabetes care and management by delivering best-in-class solutions and by responding to the needs of the community," explains Kevin Sayer, President and Chief Executive Officer of Dexcom. "We are excited to share our dedication to driving better outcomes and improved quality of life for people living with diabetes in Canada."

Dexcom's new Canadian operation coincides with the launch of the Dexcom G5 Mobile CGM system. It is the only CGM system in North America approved to replace painful fingerprick glucose testing for diabetes treatment decisions, making it a significant leap forward in diabetes management (fingerpricks are only needed every 12 hours to calibrate). The Dexcom G5 is also the first and only fully mobile CGM system that sends glucose data directly to a compatible smart device. Securely transmitted every five minutes, this glucose information allows for real-time diabetes management.

The Dexcom G5 Mobile CGM System is approved to use in patients as young as 2 years of age, without the need for confirmatory fingerpricks. And with the ability to share data, parents can remotely monitor their child's glucose information and receive alerts – for peace of mind while their child is beyond their supervision.

"When I'm running long distances, hypos are a constant danger," explains endurance athlete Sébastien Sasseville, who lives with Type 1 diabetes. "With the Dexcom G5, I get glucose readings every five minutes so I know right where I stand, and where I'm headed. I can act immediately to bring my levels into the right zone. And all of this data is right on my phone, so I don't have to carry around my receiver which was a hassle. But the best part is I don't have to stop mid-run and do annoying, painful fingerpricks – I can really just focus on the finish line." With the help of his Dexcom CGM system, Sasseville has completed six Ironman Triathlons, run the Sahara Race, and, most recently, run 7,200 kilometres across Canada, the equivalent of 170 marathons.

The Dexcom G5 Mobile CGM System will be available within the first quarter of 2017. And marking Dexcom's commitment to helping Canadians access this technology, the company will be offering monthly pricing options for the first time globally. Canadians interested in the Dexcom G5 Mobile CGM system and staying up to date on its launch are encouraged to visit Dexcom.com/Canada.

About Diabetes and Continuous Glucose Monitoring
With diabetes, the body cannot produce or use the hormone insulin effectively, causing a buildup of glucose, or sugar, in the blood. People with diabetes who take insulin must monitor their blood glucose levels frequently. Uncontrolled glucose can cause health complications and even death.^i,ii

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is considered the most significant breakthrough in diabetes management in the past 40 years.ⁱⁱⁱ CGM is important because, in addition to providing the glucose level, it provides the direction and rate of glucose change with the push of a button and alerts users when glucose is too low or too high with built-in and customizable alarms. A recent study showed that after one year, patients with type 1 diabetes who used CGM alone had significant A1C reductions regardless of the type of insulin delivery method used, including insulin pumps.^iv

About Dexcom, Inc.
Dexcom, Inc., headquartered in San Diego, CA, and has operations in Canada, is dedicated to helping people better manage their diabetes by developing and marketing continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) products and tools for adult and pediatric patients. With exceptional performance, patient comfort and lifestyle flexibility at the heart of its technology, users have consistently ranked Dexcom highest in customer satisfaction and loyalty.^v For more information on the Dexcom CGM, visit www.dexcom.com.

References
i Hyperglycemia (High blood glucose). American Diabetes Association Web site. http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/blood-glucose-control/hyperglycemia.html. Updated August 5, 2013. Accessed December 3, 2013.
ii Hypoglycemia (Low blood glucose). American Diabetes Association Web site. http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/blood-glucose-control/hypoglycemia-low-blood.html. Updated July 16, 2013. Accessed December 3, 2013.
iii Clarke SF and Foster JR. A history of blood glucose meters and their role in self-monitoring of diabetes mellitus. Br J Biomed Sci. 2012;(3)2:83-93.
iv J. Soupal, J. Skrha Prazny, M. Flekac, L. Petruzelkova, J. Skrha, et al. Comparison of different treatment modalities for Type 1 diabetes including Sensor-Augmented Insulin Regimens (SAIR), in 52 weeks of follow ups: A COMISAIR Study. Diabetes Technology and Therapeutics. Vol 18, No. 9, Sept. 2016.
v dQ&A research, 2009-2016

Research highlights motivations, plans to achieve fitness/nutrition goals

One in three (33%) Canadians say improving their personal fitness and nutrition is their top new year's resolution, compared with only 21 per cent who chose to focus on financial goals, based on a recent Ipsos survey.

The survey, conducted on behalf of GoodLife Fitness, also found 13 per cent of Canadians resolved to dedicate more time to travel and leisure, 11 per cent plan to quit bad habits like smoking or drinking, and 10 per cent would spend more time with family and friends.

"It's great to see more Canadians choosing fitness and nutrition as their number one resolution for 2017 because it suggests people are making positive choices when it comes to eating well and being active, with the goal of feeling better overall," said David 'Patch' Patchell-Evans, founder and CEO of GoodLife Fitness.

More than half (53%) of Canadians say improving their overall quality of life is the primary motivation for pursuing a health and wellness resolution. Preventing health risks (45%), losing weight (42%) and increasing their energy (41%) ranked as other top reasons to exercise more and eat better.

Many Canadians say they're willing to make lifestyle changes to achieve their fitness and nutrition goals. Nearly half (45%) say they would plan to change their eating habits by developing a healthy meal plan, while one in three (34%) say they would set a weight loss goal for themselves.

Other Canadians are looking to become more active. Four in 10 (41%) would spend more time outdoors, while one in four (24%) say they'd find a friend to be active with. One in five Canadians (18%) say they would join a gym.

"These are all concrete steps toward a healthier lifestyle. Whether it's joining a fitness club, consulting with a personal trainer, making a meal plan or just getting out for a walk, Canadians are finding ways to eat healthier foods and exercise more in 2017," said Patch. "The important part is to build healthier habits into your daily routine. That way you're more likely to stick with your resolution beyond the first few weeks."

To find out more about what helps Canadians stay motivated to work out, GoodLife Fitness polled 1,100+ longer-term members who have work out at the gym a minimum of 10 times per month, over the past two years or longer.

GoodLife Fitness' research experts conducted a topic-modelling analysis on the responses, and found the top three motivating factors for long-term members are:

• The positive feeling or emotional boost that occurs after exercise – whether it's more energy, a productivity boost, a better mood or a sense of relaxation.
• The community and people they meet when they go to the gym: their personal trainers, the group class instructors, the team trainers, the people in their group classes, and their friends. The members often looked to others for accountability and motivation.
• The long-term benefits of exercise, including that chance to feel younger and have a better quality of life as they age.

When asked about the secret to long-term fitness success, the most popular response was to rely on a personal trainer or group fitness instructor to motivate them and keep them accountable. Another secret was to make exercise a non-negotiable part of the daily routine. Finding something you love to do is also a major part of success – whether it's running, yoga, weights or group fitness classes.

"Making a personal connection at the gym, by bringing a friend, taking a group fitness class, working with a personal trainer, or by signing up for a team training camp seems to be an essential step in establishing a fitness routine," explained Tracy Matthews, GoodLife Fitness Executive Director of Member Services. "We heard repeatedly that members feel better after a workout, and would actually push themselves to go to the gym to boost their mood and productivity. These immediate emotional and psychological benefits are major drivers in helping members stick with their routine."

About the research
Ipsos survey
Ipsos conducted a poll on behalf of GoodLife Fitness. A sample of 1,000 Canadians were interviewed between December 15 and December 19, 2016 as part of Ipsos' online panel. Weighting was then employed to balance demographics to ensure the sample's composition reflects that of the adult population according to Census data and to provide results intended to approximate the sample universe. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval.  In this case, the poll is accurate to within +/ - 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, had all Canadian adults been polled.

GoodLife Fitness long-term member survey
The survey of long-term members was led by Scott Leith, Ph.D, data scientist and research psychologist with GoodLife Fitness. GoodLife received 1,120 responses to an online survey of long-term active members, who have worked out a minimum of 10 times per month for two years or more. Members were asked a series of closed and open-ended questions and a topic-modelling analysis was performed to determine overarching themes in the open-ended questions. The average age of respondents was 45, and the 25^th percentile age was 33. Respondents were approximately 55 per cent female and 45 per cent male.

About GoodLife Fitness
Proudly Canadian since 1979, GoodLife Fitness is the largest fitness company in Canada and the fourth largest in the world. With over 375 clubs from coast-to-coast, including 40 Énergie Cardio and ÉconoFitness Clubs in Quebec, approximately 14,400 employees and more than 1.3 million Members, GoodLife is helping to transform the health and wellness of one in 28 Canadians every day. GoodLife also provides workplace wellness programming and services to more than 3,000 corporate partners across Canada. www.goodlifefitness.com