Approximately 5,000 runners, eight kilometres covered and more than $300,000 raised—not a bad way to kickoff a season of money-raising runs.
Last Saturday, runners, walkers and spectators from across Toronto converged on High Park to participate in Harry's Spring Run-Off, the first run of the season in the
East Canada Running Series. Saturday also marked the seventh year that luxury menswear retailer
Harry Rosen sponsored the Spring Run-Off, an event that raises money for prostate cancer research at Toronto's
Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH). It's estimated that almost 5,000 participants took part in the eight- and five-kilometre races.
The approximately $300,000 raised goes to the
Prostate Centre Program at The Princess Margaret Hospital, a program dedicated to the advancement of personalized prostate cancer medicine.
Larry Rosen, chairman and CEO of Harry Rosen, says the partnership with the Canadian Running Series and the PMH, has been intergal to his company's commitment to fight prostate cancer.
"It's a way of making sure to make sure every dollar we raise makes a difference. [Prince Margaret Hospital] has been a fantastic partner for us," says Rosen. :They constantly talk to us, keep us in the loop. [The Spring Run-Off] has been great for our us, it's been great for our partners, it's been great for out clients and it's been great for cancer research." In its seven years, the Run-Off has helped to raise more than $2 million for prostate cancer research.
The Canadian Running Series, which holds events in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver, attracted more than 60,000 participants in 2011 and raised $6.5 million for 238 charities.
Writer: Katia Snukal
Source: Larry Rosen, Chairman and CEO, Harry Rosen Inc.