2006-02-20 - Paramedics play hockey for sick kids
MEDIA RELEASE
Paramedics play hockey for sick kids
Monday February 20, 2006

Ottawa – Paramedics will play two days of hockey to raise money for Roger’s House, a palliative care centre for children who have been diagnosed with severe and terminal illness.

Denis Gagnon, an Advanced Care Paramedic with Ottawa explains, “Paramedics are called upon to treat very sick kids every day. By raising this money we can also touch those who are confined to hospital beds far from the comforts of home”.

The proceeds will be raised during the Third Annual Paramedic Invitational Hockey Tournament which will be held at the University of Ottawa arena on this Wednesday and Thursday between 8am and 2pm. Over 150 paramedic hockey players from across Ontario and Quebec will participate in the 12 team event.

"Due to advances in medicine, children are now surviving much longer with severe and terminal illness,” said Darryl Wilton, President of the Professional Paramedic Association of Ottawa. “As a result, paramedics are seeing more of these patients every day and our annual hockey tournament helps these children."

The paramedics are trying to double the $3000 dollars that was raised last year. Public donations can also be made through the OttawaParamedics.ca website.

The hockey tournament is run by paramedics with support from Outrider Sports, North City General Insurance, Nike, Easton, Cam Atchison from Molson’s and the Heart & Crown Cafe.

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Please contact Denis Gagnon, Advanced Care Paramedic and Hockey Tournament Coordinator for more information:

Denis Gagnon, Advanced Care Paramedic
Hockey Tournament Coordinator
Professional Paramedic Association of Ottawa
300 March Road (4th Floor)
Ottawa, ON K2K 2E2
Cellular: (613) 327-3911
hockey@ottawaparamedics.ca
www.OttawaParamedics.ca



The Professional Paramedic Association of Ottawa is responsible for promoting the practice of Paramedicine and ensuring the highest level of care for our patients.  We are leaders in the advancement of Paramedicine and achieve our objectives through public awareness, research and education.  We lobby for self-regulation under the Regulated Health Professions Act.  We also assist in fundraising for community-based charities.  The Professional Paramedic Association of Ottawa is a proud chapter of the Ontario Paramedic Association and the Paramedic Association of Canada. The Professional Paramedic Association of Ottawa (PPAO) is not a labour union.