Honorary Chair Wayne Gretzky, along with Martin Short and Jason Priestley,

unite to raise awareness and funds for injury prevention.

First-ever Parachute Gala honours prominent, Canadian neurosurgeon Dr. Charles Tator.

TORONTO, May 20, 2015 –Gala co-chairs Michael Budman, Diane Bald and Don & Denyse Green join Honorary Chair Wayne Gretzky, along with well-known actors Martin Short and Jason Priestley, to honour Dr. Charles H. Tator at the inaugural Parachute Gala on May 20, 2015 at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel. Together with the support from members of the medical community, celebrities, community leaders, entertainers, and gala sponsors, Parachute is raising funds and awareness to stop the clock on preventable injuries, the #1 killer of Canadian children and youth.

This inspirational evening will also honour outstanding work of Dr. Charles H. Tator, prominent Canadian neurosurgeon and one of Parachute’s founding board members. Through his lifetime commitment to both injury prevention and the treatment of brain and spinal cord injuries, Dr. Tator has had a resounding impact on his patients’ lives, and on the burden of preventable injuries in Canada. Dr. Tator is a member of the Order of Canada and the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame. He most recently received the USA Hockey Excellence in Safety Award for his work in preventing brain and spinal cord injuries in hockey. Dr. Tator is currently the Director of the Canadian Sport Concussion Project at Toronto Western Hospital.

The evening will both inform and entertain. Focusing on the need for education, knowledge and empowerment, the gala includes powerful stories from individuals and families who have been forever changed by injuries. Their stories are complemented by special performances of support from Canadian R&B artists Deborah Cox and JRDN.

“We are proud and excited to welcome guests, sponsors and donors to our first-ever gala. It promises to be a moving celebration while reinforcing Parachute’s vital message of prevention”, said Louise Logan, Parachute’s President and CEO. “Funds raised go into much-needed initiatives that build awareness and understanding of the issue of injury, to keep Canadians safe at home, on the road, at work, and at play. Working together, we can stop the clock on preventable injuries”.

Each year, there are 13,000 deaths, 3 million visits to emergency rooms, 200,000 hospital stays, and 60,000 disabilities due to injury. This brings an economic burden of $20 billion to Canadians. Worst of all, 1 child dies every nine hours. We can change the statistics and save lives. Research shows 90% of all injuries are preventable.

About Parachute

Parachute is a national charity helping Canadians stop the clock on preventable injuries. The injury impact is staggering. Preventable injuries are the #1 killer of children. They cost the Canadian economy $20B a year, and worst of all, one child dies every nine hours. Through education, knowledge and empowerment, Parachute is working to save lives and create an injury-free Canada. For information, visit us at parachutecanada.org, follow us on Twitter, and join us on Facebook.

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For information:

Lorraine Quartaro
PRQ
416-433-7232
Lorraine.quartaro@sympatico.ca