Our Focus is on Our Volunteers- Join Us on the Last Sunday In May!

Paul H. Wright M.D., FRCSC
President, The Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation
Burnaby, BC

The 13^th annual Hip Hip Hooray Walk in support of the Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation is right around the corner. This year, the event will be held in over 50 cities across the nation. A complete list of sites and date details can be found by visiting the Foundation’s web site: www.canorth.org.

The 2004 Walk has been organized through the efforts of Ms. Angelique Berg and her team at the COF, who have put an important emphasis on our volunteers - giving them a stronger voice in how the Walk is conducted across the country. A newly instituted Volunteer Advisory Board has met by teleconference several times this year and has been instrumental in setting policy and providing much needed input into Foundation affairs. The Advisory Board is made up of experienced Hip Hip Hooray volunteers from every province of Canada. Hip Hip Hooray, however, is not a “cookie-cutter” affair. Indeed, one of the strengths of the Walk is how each community adds regional flair and creativity to their events. Varieties of food, refreshments, activities for children, and entertainment differ across the nation and make each Walk unique in its own way.

Our volunteers make a special investment to improving orthopaedic care in Canada. Proceeds from the Walks are invested locally and nationally – powering solutions in communities and across the nation.

COA Member Contributions Go Directly to Canadian Orthopaedic Research

One of the ways that many COA members support the Foundation directly is by making a donation through their COA dues invoice, using the special section where you can indicate your donation. All such donations receive a tax receipt and the funds are transferred to the Foundation specifically for research grant funding. To-date in 2004, COA member donations have increased 30% over last year. We would like to extend a heartfelt “thank you” to all members who have donated. To acknowledge these generous gifts, a current list of 2004 donors will be published in the Foundation column of the next edition (August/September) of the COA Bulletin.

Local Investment

Supporters of Hip Hip Hooray are improving orthopaedic care right in their own backyards. The Foundation supports improvement to the delivery of orthopaedic care in the communities that power its fund-raising efforts by investing half of the funds raised through Hip Hip Hooray directly in the local area.

National Investment

Hip Hip Hooray is a reminder that Canadians have an important health issue to address. The Foundation advocates strongly that timely orthopaedic treatment is a right of all Canadians and that the growing prevalence of arthritis alone should be of major concern. Our aging population, orthopaedic research, education and care are the national priorities and activities of the Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation.

Accomplishments and Celebrations

Since its inception in 1992, Hip Hip Hooray has raised over $15 million toward maintenance and restoration of bone and joint health, mobility and function. Hip Hip Hooray is a golden opportunity to celebrate what patients, surgeons, and health care professionals have accomplished, and what we can look forward to in the future: excellence in bone and joint health for all Canadians. Please join us at a site convenient to you.