March 31, 2014
HAMILTON, Ontario–(CANADIAN CHRISTIAN NEWS SERVICE)–This Mother’s Day weekend, ten communities across Canada will host fundraising walks to improve maternal health in the developing world, where childbirth is one of the leading causes of death among adolescent girls and women.
In Ontario, Steps to Deliver Change Walks will take place in the communities of Bradford West Gwillimbury, Cambridge, Dundas, East Toronto, London, St. Jacobs, Stouffville, and Sudbury. Two Ontario high schools will stage events in support of the Walk. Additionally, Vancouver Island and Montreal will be host sites. And for the first time this year, walkers from around the world can participate by joining our netWALK. Proceeds of each five kilometre Walk will go to Save the Mothers, a Canadian charity based in Uganda, which empowers East African leaders to improve standards and practices of health care for pregnant women in their communities.
“Every day, 800 women die from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth,” says Dr. Daniel Scott, Managing Director of Save the Mothers. “Almost all of these deaths are preventable, and occur in the developing world where social, economic and cultural barriers prevent women from receiving adequate care.”
“The Canadian government has taken the lead on this issue,” adds Scott, “and recently announced Canada will host a high-level, international summit on maternal, newborn and child health in Toronto, at the end of May. Save the Mothers will be there to present our innovative, multidisciplinary approach to transforming cultures and saving lives.”
“Save the Mothers believes every mother counts,” says Scott, “and that we can all take steps to deliver change to improve maternal health.”
For more information, including a list of Walk times and locations, contact:
Patricia Paddey,
Communications Director,
Email: ppaddey@savethemothers.org
Phone: (905) 616-1326
Or visit: www.walkformothersday.com