Spartan Race Canada Selects a New National Charity Partner in 2018 in Order to Help Canadian Children Who Courageously Face Obstacles Every Day!

MONTRÉAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--We are proud to announce that Spartan Race Canada has selected Shriners Hospitals for Children ─ Canada as their national charity partner for 2018. Spartan Race is the leader in obstacle course racing. Spartan races are amongst the most challenging obstacle courses in the world, tough for anyone. But, over the years, patients at Shriners Hospitals for Children ─ Canada have proven that disabilities do not necessarily mean limitations. Their participation in these challenging events has inspired families, friends and communities across the country.

Shriners Hospitals for Children – Canada share a core value with the Spartan Race sports community: empowering individuals to realize their full potential and to be the best that they can be. All patients at Canada Shriners Hospital face obstacles every day. The hospital treats children with orthopaedic and neuromuscular problems such as brittle bone disease, hip dysplasia, cerebral palsy, scoliosis, limb deformities and other complex conditions. “We understand that with care and support, the children and families helped at Shriners Hospitals for Children – Canada are able to face obstacles and learn how to deal with them, how to be autonomous and to trust their ability to find a solution. This is very similar to what runners encounter when training for a Spartan Race, and during the race”, shares Martin Galligan, President, Spartan Race Canada.

“As they have in the past, in 2018 our patients and staff will be proud to represent the hospital as runners and on location at almost every race across the country. This May, Patients Jeffrey Beausoleil, born missing his right hand and his right foot will be fundraising and running his 9^th race in May with his friends and family, Aurélie, born with a leg length discrepancy of several centimeters which has been corrected will attempt her second Spartan Race, and newcomer patient Florence, a 10 year-old who had a foot amputation, will attempt her first Junior Spartan! The Shriners Fraternity will also be very present at all the races across the country as faithful volunteers to help organizers offer a safe, fun and rewarding race to all participants”, says Bill Miller, Chairman of the Board of Governors.

What does this mean for the children we treat?

As the 2018 National Charity Partner of Spartan Race Canada there will be many ways participants can support the hospital:

• Runners can add a donation during their registration process at www.spartanrace.ca
• Individuals can also fundraise to make their race more meaningful or groups can fundraise as a team building activity at www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/montreal/spartanracecanada
• Support our exceptional patients and patient-runners at ww.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/montreal/spartanracecanada

• Make it a fun family day, register your child or grand-child to run in one of the Junior Spartan Races at www.spartanrace.ca
• Volunteer at a Spartan Race on behalf of the hospital. Contact Jennifer Bradley at [e-mail]

Funds raised through Spartan Races throughout the season will be directed to patient care and services at Shriners Hospitals for Children – Canada in order to help our team of professionals provide exceptional care to exceptional kids for generations to come.

Race Schedule
May 26/27	Montreal, QC	(Owl’s Head)
June 9/10	Red Deer, AB	(Heritage Ranch)
June 23/24	Toronto, ON	(Brimacombe)
July 13-15	Rocky Mountain Trifecta, BC	(Kimberley Alpine Resort)
July 28/29	Ottawa, ON	(Calabogie Peaks)
August 11/12	Calgary, AB	(Wild Rose MX Park)
August 25/26	Quebec, QC	(Stoneham)
September 7-9	Ontario Trifecta, ON	(Highlands Nordic)
September 22/23	Vancouver, BC	(Mount Seymour)

About Shriners Hospitals for Children – Canada
Established in Montreal in 1925, Shriners Hospitals for Children – Canada is the only Canadian establishment within the network of 22 Shriners hospitals. This bilingual, short-term, acute care hospital provides ultra-specialized orthopaedic care to children from coast to coast in Canada, the U.S. and around the world. The mission of the hospital is to promote health and provide treatment and rehabilitation to infants, children and young adults with orthopaedic and neuromuscular problems such as scoliosis, osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease), club feet, hip dysplasia, leg length discrepancies and cerebral palsy.

The hospital is committed to excellence and innovation in clinical practice, research and education and to ensuring patients and their families are treated in a caring, family-friendly environment. Affiliated with McGill University, the hospital provides clinical experience and teaching for residents and allied professionals within its outstanding new facility on the Glen site. The hospital is present in communities across Canada, thanks to telemedicine, outreach clinics and satellite clinics.

About Spartan Race Canada
Spartan Race is the world’s leading obstacle race company and the first of its kind to feature timing and global rankings. With more than 200 events in 25+ countries planned for 2018, Spartan Race has more than 1 million global participants, and offers open heats for all fitness levels as well as age group and elite heats. With nearly 5 million passionate social media followers, brand extensions such as Spartan Training, which includes Spartan SGX certified programs and coaches, and the popular Spartan KIDS race, Spartan Race has made obstacle racing one of the fastest growing sports—and lifestyles— in the world.