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Whitehall Rowing & Sail Media Contact:
Harold Aune, Marketing
harold@whitehallrow.com
250 480 9343
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE NOVEMBER 12, 2008
The 2008 Heart and Stroke Big Bike Fundraiser
Sets A Record For Donations And Participants
With Help From Victoria’s Whitehall Rowing and Sail
Victoria, B.C. November 7, 2008 ….Supporters of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC & Yukon obviously have a yen to go rowing. When Whitehall Rowing and Sail decided to donate their latest innovation in slide-seat rowboats- a Spirit Solo 14 - to the Heart and Stroke Foundation as an incentive in their 2008 Big Bike program, they really struck a chord with the participants.
Featured on the Foundation’s website, people jumped at the chance at winning the slick looking rowboat. The number of on-line donors leapt from 2,326 in 2007 to 7,693 an astonishing 289%. The number of participants grew from 752 to 2,929 for an increase of 230% but what really pleases owners Harold Aune and Marie Hutchinson was the bottom line, especially with National Philanthropy Day coming up November 17.
“Last year we raised $101,468 in online donations and this year over $326,000 thanks in part to the donation of Whitehall’s Solo 14” said Danny DeSouza, Manager of Corporate Relations at the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Marie and Harold did what they usually do for customers – personal service. They delivered a new fully equipped Whitehall Spirit Solo 14 slide seat rowboat with sculling oars, boat trailer and accessories worth more than $12,000 to Chantel Dueck of Abbotsford, B.C. who is the Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC & Yukon’s award winner.
Marie Hutchinson, President of Whitehall, observed “Over 100 years ago, the Whitehall-style of rowboat was originally termed “the bicycle of the sea,” with boats used by pilots, police and as water taxis in busy ports like New York and Boston. Our latest model, the Solo 14, is equipped with slide seat gear and is good for your heart and health, so this is very appropriate."
Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC & Yukon, a volunteer-based health charity, leads in eliminating heart disease and stroke and reducing their impact through the advancement of research and its application, the promotion of healthy living, and advocacy.
The boat can be viewed at www.whitehallsolo.com
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