TORONTO, (July 6, 2005) — Does the trucking industry step up to the plate–rather the tee– for a needy cause? You bet it does.

To whit: A few months ago, Canadian Trucking Alliance Chairman and the president and CEO of Canpar, John Cyopek, told colleagues that he was trying to raise a million bucks to help the Trillium Health Centre in Mississauga purchase a new MRI Unit.

Cyopeck is no stranger to the Trillium Health Centre, which has two hospitals in Mississauga and Etobicoke. He had been diagnosed with a brain tumour and treated at the hospital and felt so strongly about his royal treatment that he wanted to give something back. “Right now, a person is faced with a six-to-eight month wait for elective surgery. Even urgent cases have a one-month wait time. This is unacceptable,” he says.

Part of his fundraising campaign involves a pro-am Charity golf tourney, slated for August 29th at the Rattlesnake Point Golf Club in Milton, Ontario.

John and friends had asked for sponsors for the event.
This week, he announced that there are no more pro-am teams or Platinum sponsorhips available.

“They sold out about three weeks, ago,” John says.

The happy fact is, he’s still getting requests for teams and he’s had to return some certified checks from hopeful do-gooders.

Still. You can play along another way. “We’re offering dinner tickets in blocks of 10 for a table for $1,000,” he adds.

You can also help make the dream come true with a direct donation.

Others in the trucking industry, including Newcom Business Media, Vitran’s CEO Rick Gaetz, and many other colleagues and friends have thrown their shoulders to this wheel.

You can make your check payable to the Trillium Health Centre Foundation and mail it to Canpar Transport LP/SEC, 1290 Central Parkway West, Suite 500, Mississauga, Ontario. L5C 4R9.